Williamsburg, KY – The fourth-seed Cumberlands men's lacrosse team netted a program record goals, points, and faceoff wins, while multiple Patriots recorded career high's as they earned the 28-4 win over fifth-seed SCAD Saturday morning at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  With the win, UC improves to 10-3 overall and advances to the semifinals of the AAC Tournament.

Nick Kava led the way for UC with a new program record 12 points, including tying the program record with seven assists.  Evan Barton netted a career-high six goals to go along with three assists, while, Maalek Wilson and Will Rogers tallied seven points apiece.  Caden Abbott added four goals. 

Dakota White and Michael Adams combined to go 26-35 on faceoffs with nine ground balls. Owen Hebenstreit notched five caused turnovers and three ground balls, while Taylor Long scooped six ground balls.  Nathan Foskey, Jack Bichsel, and JD Cook combined for nine saves in the win.

Foskey made a save on the first possession of the game, while Kava connected with Barton for a goal to make it 1-0.  The two teams traded goals before Foskey added a pair of saves and Johnathon Vanover connected with Kava to make it a 3-1 lead for Cumberlands.  The Patriots continued to with strong ball movement as Rogers notched an assist and a goal extending the lead to 5-1.  Alex Heck and Hebenstreit each tallied a caused turnovers as UC took a 6-1 lead after the first quarter.

UC won the first two faceoffs and goals from Barton and Wilson made it an 8-1 lead just over a minute into the second quarter.  The Patriots defense continued with stifling defense as Kava connected with Rogers for a man-up goal.  After a pair of UC goals, Taylor Long forced a turnover and on the transition Gabe Schwaiger split the defense to net his third goal of the year making it 12-1 with 2:42 remaining.  Schwaiger notched a caused turnover, while Bichsel tallied a save in the closing minute of the half.

Cumberlands outscored SCAD 11-0 in the third quarter as the Patriots defense held the Bees without a shot in the period.  UC won 8 of the 11 faceoffs in the period as Kava and Barton started the scoring making it 14-1 with 11:11 remaining.  The Patriots netted goals on there next three possessions, and added another three goal run that featured goals from Mason Miller and Carter Barrett to make it 20-1.  In the closing seconds of the quarter Caden Abbott fired a shot from long range and beat the buzzer making it 23-1.

UC added four unanswered goals to open the fourth quarter, while the Bees scored three of the final four goals for the 28-4 final.

The Patriots 28 goals surpasses the previous record of 26, set back in 2021, while UC's 47 points also is new program record.  

Cumberlands advances to the semifinals, where they'll face top-seed Webber.  The game is set for Friday, April 25, at 1 p.m. in Marietta, GA hosted by Life University.

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