Storybook endings Our Top 10 most dramatic finishes With all apologies to a certain cable network, nobody does drama like intercollegiate sports.
Whether it is a last-second play, an individual or team overcoming obstacles, or still believing in victory when all seems lost, NCAA championship contests are packed with dramatic moments.
More than 2,000 NCAA championships have been conducted in the last 25 years. This is our attempt to rank the 10 that were the most dramatic, regardless of division, gender or sport.
First, some parameters.
Since the Association celebrated its Centennial in 2006, the last quarter century seems like an appropriate starting point. Our list encompasses championships since 1982-83, which also marks the time at which the NCAA began conducting women’s championships.
We all have personal favorites – as a participant, alumnus or fan. Everyone’s top 10 will differ, but link to ours on your right.
Honorable mentions
1984 – Division I Men’s Hockey Bowling Green 5, Minnesota-Duluth 4 (four overtimes) Bowling Green scored twice in the last six minutes to tie the game. The tying goal came on a crazy carom off the boards with 1:47 left. Gino Cavallini scored the winning goal in the fourth overtime. Overtimes were only 10 minutes then, and the game took 3 hours and 55 minutes to play. 1987 – Division I (Football Championship Subdivision) Northeast Louisiana 43, Marshall 42 Marshall scored 29 points in the third quarter to take 42-28 lead. Northeast Louisiana scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to win the game. The teams combined for 56 first downs in the game and 1,146 yards of total offense. 1987 – Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship Wisconsin-Oshkosh 81, St. Thomas (Minnesota) 81. The two teams tied for the team title. It was the first time two teams tied for an NCAA cross country title since 1942. Shelley Scherer of Carleton won the individual title with the second-fastest time in history at the time. 1992 – Division I Men’s Lacrosse Princeton 10, Syracuse 9 (double overtime) Princeton led 6-0 and 8-2 before Syracuse rallied to tie the game. Princeton, which hadn’t scored in over 17 minutes remaining to reclaim the lead with 2:37 left in regulation. Syracuse tied it again with 42 seconds. Princeton won nine seconds into the second overtime. 1998 – Division I Women’s Volleyball Long Beach State 3, Penn State 2 Both teams were 35-0 entering the final. Long Beach State won 15-3, 15-10, 13-15, 14-16, 15-12. Want more honorable mentions?
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