Williamsburg, KY – Junior Nick Kava netted a career-high five goals and six points but it wasn't enough as the fourth-ranked Patriots men's lacrosse team fell to top-ranked Keiser 14-7 Saturday night at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  With the win the Seahawks improve to 6-0 and 3-0 in conference play, while the Pats move to 2-1 on the year.

Kava has a team-high six points, while Noah Brandt added a goal and an assists to go along with four ground balls.  Four Patriot players scooped three ground balls apiece as Owen Hebenstreit tallied a team-best two caused turnovers.  Michael Toohey made 17 saves, including nine in the first quarter.

Keiser came out firing, however, Toohey made a pair of saves in the first three minutes of play to keep the game scoreless.  Cumberlands got on the board first as Will Rogers connected with Maalek Wilson, who bounced a shot into the cage for the 1-0 lead.  Toohey added a save and on the ensuing possession Kava found Brandt for a goal to make it 2-0 with 9:22 remaining.  A couple minutes later the Patriots extended their lead to 3-0 as Kava intercepted a pass and on the transition put a well-placed shot into the cage.  The Seahawks scored twice to cut the lead to 3-2, before Toohey added a pair of saves before the end of the period.

Keiser evened the score five minutes into the second quarter, however, the Patriots responded as Kava found a strong angle for an unassisted goal to make it 4-3.  On the next Cumberlands possession, Evan Barton scooped a ground ball and found a cutting Kava for a goal extending the lead to 5-3 with 5:34 left.  Keiser added a goal to pull within one however UC took a 5-4 lead into the break.

The Seahawks netted four straight goals to open the third quarter and take the 8-5 advantage.  Kava led the Patriots response netting his fourth goal of the game at the 3:51 mark to make it 8-6. Keiser added a pair of goals to take a 10-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

UC opened the fourth quarter with a two-man advantage and on that possession Brandt found Kava for a goal to make it 10-7.  That was the closest UC came as Keiser netted the final four goals for the 14-7 final.

The Patriots return to the field on Tuesday, February 27, when they travel to Montreat, NC to face the Cavaliers in an AAC match.  The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.

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