FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It always loomed large that championship weekend, no matter how it played out, would mark Ben Reeves’ last stint in a Yale jersey. Like all great college players – and Reeves is among the best as a three-time All-American and the Bulldogs’ all-time leading scorer – his day would come.
But championship weekend would also offer a glimpse into who could replace, or at least help alleviate, the loss of Reeves. That question wasn’t too present on head coach Andy Shay’s mind at Gillette Stadium, but a possible answer emerged in Yale’s run to its first-ever NCAA title, culminating in a 13-11 win over Duke on Monday.
Step in Matt Gaudet, who had four goals against the Blue Devils after going off for six tallies against Albany in the semifinals. The moment was never too big for the sophomore attackman from Hamilton, Ontario.
“As soon as I saw the back of my defender’s helmet, I just went under it,” Gaudet said of what made him successful. “They’d be able to draw the slide, and I was able to get my layups. I show it all for my teammates.”
Heading into Sunday’s final, Gaudet was hardly a peripheral player for the Bulldogs. He was Yale’s fourth-leading scorer, one who registered at least a hat trick in five prior games.
But finishing the weekend with 10 goals, and being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Players? Gaudet didn’t quite dream that up, and Shay wasn’t sure it’d come earlier in the week.
“Matt, he’s had an up-and-down year,” Shay said. “He’s been challenged, and he got challenged before we left for Foxborough. Right before we got on the bus, we had a spicy moment in practice where I told him we needed more out of him. He responded, so I’m really proud of him.”
#NCAALAX All-Tournament Team
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 28, 2018
Matt Gaudet, Yale - MOP
Ben Reeves, Yale
Jack Starr, Yale
Chris Fake, Yale
Jack Tigh, Yale
Jackson Morrill, Yale
JT Giles-Harris, Duke
Justin Guterding, Duke
Connor Fields, Albany
Connor Kelly, Maryland
Gaudet, however, was quick to credit his teammates, especially Reeves. There’s perhaps no better teacher in the Ivy League, as Reeves’ career ends with 316 points. In practices, in games, in the weight room, he watched the three-time Tewaaraton Award finalist go to work.
So when Duke put its top close-range defenseman, JT Giles-Harris, on Reeves, that opened up a window of opportunity. Gaudet seized it.
“I think from day one, Ben really showed me what it’s like to be a Yale lacrosse player,” Gaudet said. “I used to really believe that lacrosse was just a talent-based game, and Ben showed me the way and showed me it’s all about fundamentals. It’s all about working hard. I can’t even express how much I’m going to miss him next year.”
On a team that featured five All-Americans and 12 All-Ivy League members in 2018, Gaudet never appeared on any postseason award list. But the signs have always been there.
His 32 goals as a freshman set a new record for a Yale rookie, and he was put on the Ivy League All-Tournament team as a sophomore. Plus, he was a three-year standout at New England prep school Salisbury and won Canadian national gold medals for Team Ontario in box and field lacrosse.
It was just a matter of time until Gaudet seized his moment, this one on college lacrosse’s biggest stage. That all left his teammates wondering what could come next in his Yale career.
“He has a really great style that gets everyone going and everyone feeling up about themselves,” said junior midfielder Jack Tigh, who had a hat trick against Duke. “Coach was telling him all week to stay up, stay positive and keep shooting the ball. Every time it touched his stick this weekend, I feel like it went in. He did a great job.”