Williamsburg, KY – The fifth-ranked UC men's lacrosse team sent its first senior class out with a bang outscoring Montreat 16-1 in the second half en route to an 18-7 win over Montreat to clinch the program's first AAC Regular Season Championship.  The Patriots seniors combined for six points, 30 ground balls, and eight caused turnovers in the game.

Montreat (3-9; 2-1) won the opening faceoff and on the ensuing possession Joshua Brown fired a shot towards the goal, which was saved by senior CJ Lowery to keep the game scoreless.  The Cavaliers would remain in control for majority of the first quarter as the scored five unanswered goals to take a 5-0 lead with 2:14 remaining.  With a minute remaining in the first quarter, Bryan Morgan forced a Montreat turnover and on the ensuing possession Preston Brooks put a well-placed shot into the cage to cut the deficit to 5-1.

The two teams traded goals in the second quarter as the Patriots outshot the Cavaliers 15-4, however headed to the locker room trailing 6-2.

Cumberlands came out of the break rejuvenated as Jake Mitchell forced an immediate turnover off the faceoff and on the Patriots possession Justin Darley connected with Sam Collinson for a goal to cut the deficit to 6-3.  Kody Swann won all 12 of the remaining third quarter faceoffs for the Patriots to aide in the comeback.  After UC netted a goal, Caleb Elerick forced a Cavaliers turnover, scooped the ground ball, and put the shot into the back of the cage to cut it 6-5 with 8:41 remaining in the quarter.  The Patriots added four unanswered goals capped off by a Henry Quaye unassisted goal to give Cumberlands a 9-6 lead with 6:41 left. The Patriots took advantage of a Montreat penalty as Dalton Smith and Whitten McCune connected for back-to-back man-up goals to extend the lead to 11-6.  The two teams traded goals, before Anthony Gray notched an unassisted goal for the Patriots 11^th goal of the quarter and give UC a 13-7 lead.

Dylan Crouch tallied two straight goals, before assisting another goal to Quaye to extend the Patriots lead to 16-7 midway through the fourth quarter. A minute later, Nick DiFranco forced a turnover, found Bryan Morgan, who raced up field and connected with Caleb Elerick for the transition goal with 7:04 remaining. Dustin Soper came into the game and made six saves in the closing minutes of the game.  Cumberlands capped off the day with Lowery netting his first career goal for the 18-7 final.

The Patriots set a new program record for most goals in a quarter after netting 11 in the third quarter, while Swann set a new single game record with 21 faceoff wins as he finished the day 21-28 on faceoffs with 12 ground balls.  DiFranco notched a team-high six caused turnovers to go along with ten ground balls. Jaret Williamson tallied three caused turnovers and four ground balls.

Elerick led the way offensively for UC with four goals and four assists, while Crouch chipped in six points and Brooks netted a hat trick.  Three players added a pair of points each.

The Patriots return to the field Friday, April 5, when they travel to St. Luis, MO to face Missouri Baptist. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with live stats available here.

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