Ben Vangalen, Men’s Lacrosse
Ben Vangalen, a fifth-year BSc student from Orangeville, Ont. lead the men's lacrosse team to their fourth national title this past weekend in Montreal with a 14-11 victory over McGill in the championship final.
The team captain, long-stick defense man and face-off specialist was vital to the team's success on the national stage as the Gryphons recorded wins over Bishops (12-10) and Brock (14-9) en route to the final game. His face-off dominance (62%) resulted in the Gryphons controlling the bulk of possession in all three games. Defensively, he shut down the key offensive players from Bishop's, Brock and McGill to a total of eight points; a trio who tallied 145 points collectively on the season.
For his defensive prowess he was named the Harrow Sport defender of the game. His leadership both on and off the field also played a crucial role motivating his teammates during what was one of the toughest weekends Gryphon Lacrosse has ever faced.
