Grand Rapids, MI –The fourth-seed University of the Cumberlands men's lacrosse team scored five fourth quarter goals but it wasn't enough as they fell to top-seed Madonna 10-9 in the semifinals of the NAIA Invitational Friday night at AQ Athletic Complex.  With the win the Crusaders improve to 22-0, while the Patriots finish the season 13-5.

It was a defensive battle from the start as Will Settle made three saves to keep the game scoreless midway through the first quarter. Cumberlands struck first, taking advantage of a Madonna penalty as Dalton Smith found Preston Brooks for a man-up goal to give UC a 1-0 lead after the opening period.  It marked only the second time all season that Madonna was held scoreless for a quarter.

Madonna netted back-to-back goals, including a man-down goal, to take a 2-1 lead with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter. The Patriots evened the score at 2-2 as Whitten McCune put a well-placed shot past the keeper for a man-up goal with 6:08 remaining.  Madonna added two unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead at the break.

Cumberlands cut the lead to 4-3 as Henry Quaye tallied an unassisted goal just over two minutes into the third quarter.  Madonna responded with three unanswered goals to extend their lead to 7-3 after the third period.

UC took advantage of a Crusaders penalty as Quaye found Brooks for a man-up goal to 44 seconds into the fourth quarter.  Madonna added a goal, before McCune netted his second goal of the game with 8:56 remaining.  That was the first of three goals scored in a 52 second span, which cut the deficit to 9-6.  Later in the quarter, Nick DiFranco scooped the ground ball, off a Madonna turnover, raced up field and fired a shot past the goalie to make it 9-7 with 2:08 left.  Kody Swann won the ensuing faceoff and on UC's possession Caleb Elerick connected with Thomas Fogarty for a goal to make it 9-8 at the 1:43 mark. DiFranco caused a Crusaders' turnover to give the Patriots a chance for the equalizer however UC was unable to get a shot off as Madonna added a goal in the final seconds for the 10-8 final.

Leading the way for Cumberlands was Whitten McCune and Brooks, who tallied two goals apiece.  Quaye chipped in a goal and two assists, while Thomas Fogarty recorded a team-high four caused turnovers.  DiFranco added a goal and scooped five ground balls. Settle tied his career-high with 14 saves, including five in the second quarter.

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