May 22, 2000 - After being ranked #1 in the USLIA for most of the season, the Sonoma State Cossacks finished the 2000 season a relatively disappointing third at the USLIA National Championship on May 13th.

The Cossacks started the tournament seeded #2 following their heartbreaking loss to Cal in the WCLL Championship and faced #10 Texas A&M in the USLIA Quarterfinals. Texas A&M entered the game with a record of 14-0 and advanced to the Quarterfinals by upsetting SELC Champions Tennessee in the first round of the tournament. After a sluggish start, SSU's depth, speed, and superior athletic ability were too much for the Aggies to contain as the Cossacks won running away 20-8.

SSU won the right to play in the Semifinals on Friday night against Brigham Young. The #6 Cougars had advanced by beating New Hampshire and Simon Fraser. Although SSU controlled the ball for much of the first quarter and put steady pressure on the goal, the Cossacks were unable to convert, spotting BYU a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. BYU dominated the second quarter and ran the score to 6-0 by halftime. With their backs against the wall, the Cossacks came out firing in the third and were able to cut the deficit in half by the end of the quarter. SSU scored what proved to be its last goal of the game early in the fourth quarter bringing the score to 6-4 before BYU began to capitalize on SSU's overaggressive play. With a few late period goals, BYU ended SSU's quest for a USLIA Championship 9-4.

Saturday's third place game was a rematch of 1999's battle of the bridesmaids as SSU faced UC Berkeley for the third time in the 2000 season. With little on the line, both teams played rather flat for the first two quarters. However, as with most great rivalries, the pace of the game picked up as both teams strived to end their season with a win. The Cossacks proved victorious with a score of 11-9 due in large part to outstanding goaltending by senior Pat Ferguson.

Three SSU Players Earned USLIA All-Tournament Honors. Midfielders Michael John Crickmore and Dallas Hartley earned First Team Honors as Defenseman Nick Sherrell earned a spot on the Second Team. BYU won the National Championship 17 - 13 over Colorado State University.