Marietta, GA – The fourth-seed Patriots mounted a second half comeback however it came up short as third-seed and top-ranked Keiser defeated UC 11-9 in the AAC Championship game Saturday afternoon.  Cumberlands moves to 11-4 on the season heading into the NAIA National Championship.

Will Rogers led the way for UC with a team-high four goals to go along with three ground balls.  Johnathon Vanover tallied three points, while Evan Barton added a goal and an assists in the game.  Gabe Schwaiger notched three caused turnovers and four ground balls to lead the Patriots defense, while Dakota White and Ty grooms also scooped four ground balls each.  Nathan Foskey made eight saves in the game.

Both teams came out with strong defensive effort as Taylor Long and Gabe Schwaiger each scooped ground balls in the first five minutes.  UC looked to take the early lead however, Caden Abbott's shot deflected off the post.  After a Seahawk goal, Will Rogers fired a shot from 12 feet out to even the score at 1-1 with 7:03 remaining. Schwaiger added a caused turnover and a pair of ground balls as the Patriots trailed Keiser 2-1 after the first quarter.

Keiser looked to extend their lead early in the second quarter, however Nathan Foskey made a pair of saves as Schwaiger notched a caused turnover to keep it a one-goal game.  Keiser utilized a three goal run to take a 5-1 lead midway through the second quarter.  Two minutes later, Nick Kava put a well-placed shot into the cage cutting the deficit to 5-2.  Cumberlands won the next faceoff and on that possession Johnathon Vanover dodged towards the cage and finished.  Keiser added a late goal to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.

Vanover opened the scoring in the second half putting a well-placed shot into the cage to make it 6-4, a minute into the third quarter.  The Seahawks extend their lead before Foskey notched a save as Evan Barton found Rogers cutting in front of the cage for a goal to cut the deficit to 7-5 with 9:30 remaining.  UC defense continued to make big plays as Schwaiger and Owen Hebenstreit both ground balls.  Cumberlands pulled within a goal as Vanover connected with Barton for a goal at the 6:31 mark.  UC looked for the equalizer however couldn't convert as Keiser added a late goal to take an 8-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

Foskey opened the fourth quarter with a pair of saves in the first five minutes of action.  Keiser added a pair of goals to take a 10-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The two teams traded goals before Rogers scooped a loose ball and netted a goal to cut the deficit to 11-8 with 1:43 remaining.  UC continued to pressure Keiser leading to an unassisted goal from Maalek Wilson making it an 11-9 game with 27 seconds remaining.

A trio of Patriots were named to the AAC All-Tournament Team for their efforts throughout the tournament.  Garnering this distinction were Owen Hebenstreit, Nick Kava, and Gabe Schwaiger. 

The Patriots will now await the NAIA selection show, which takes place on Monday, April 28^th at 5 p.m. EST.  The show will be available on the NAIA YouTube channel.

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