Williamsburg, KY – In a defensive battle between two ranked teams, it was top-ranked Reinhardt who scored the final three goals to defeat the sixth-ranked UC men's lacrosse team 7-5 in the AAC tournament championship game Saturday afternoon at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.  With the win the Eagles improve to 13-1, while the Patriots move to 12-4.

Cumberlands struck first as Preston Brooks recorded an unassisted goal three minutes into the game to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead.  Minutes later, Jake Morgan caused an Eagles turnover and began the transition to Caleb Elerick, who found Jake Mitchell for a goal to extend the lead to 2-0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter. Reinhardt looked to cut into the lead but Will Settle made four of his game-high 14 saves in the period to keep the score 2-0.  The score remained that way until the 53 second mark when the Eagles took advantage of a UC penalty and converted a man-up goal to cut the lead to 2-1.

The defensive battled continued into the second quarter as the two teams combined for 12 shots, while each team tallied five ground balls and three saves.  Reinhardt netted the lone goal of the quarter as Dillan Bousquet connected with Gavin Banks at the 9:04 mark to even the score at 2-2 at halftime.

Cumberlands came out strong in the third quarter as Dalton Smith found Preston Brooks in front of the cage for a goal, making the score 3-2 with 12:27 remaining.  Banks netted a goal at the 8:16 mark to tie the game at 3-3.  On the ensuing faceoff, the ball rolled behind the Eagles defensive right to Sam Collinson who scooped the ground ball and fired it into the back of the cage to put UC back in front.  Reinhardt added another goal to even the score at 4-4 after three periods.

The Patriots retook the lead just over two minutes into the fourth quarter as Elerick found Dylan Crouch, who put a well-placed shot past the goalie to give Cumberlands a 5-4 lead.  Reinhardt took advantage of a UC penalty as Banks netted a man-up goal, before a Connor Mills' goal gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with 8:19 remaining.  UC had a couple opportunities at an equalizer but Matt Webb, the AAC Tournament MVP, made two of ten saves to keep the score 6-5. The Eagles notched a goal in the final two minutes for the 7-5 final.

Brooks led the way for the Patriots with two goals, while Elerick dished out a pair of assists.  Nick DiFranco and Morgan each tallied two caused turnovers and scooped six and three ground balls, respectfully.  Kody Swann went 8-16 on faceoffs with a pair of ground balls.

DiFranco, Jake Morgan, and Bryan Morgan earned AAC All-Tournament team honors for their performances throughout the tournament.

The Patriots will now await the selection show for NAIA Men's Lacrosse Invitational.  The show will take place on April 29 at 4 p.m. on www.naia.org.  The NAIA Invitational will take place May 9-12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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