Savannah, GA – After battling mother nature for the past two days, the third Cumberlands men's lacrosse team battled top-seed Keiser in the inaugural NAIA Men's Lacrosse Championship game. It was a highly contested game as the Patriots fell 14-13 in overtime to close out the season with a 13-5 record and the NAIA National Runner-Ups.
Nick Kava led the way for UC with four goals, to break the program's career goals record with 147.
Johnathon Vanover and
Will Rogers tallied two goals and two assists apiece in the game, while
Maalek Wilson chipped in three points.
Gabe Schwaiger scooped seven ground balls, while
Nathan Foskey made 14 saves in the game.
The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead, however the Patriots responded as Vanover connected with Rogers for the goal tying the score at 1-1. Less than a minute later,
Caden Abbott scooped a ground ball, of a blocked shot, and fired it into the cage putting UC in front 2-1. Keiser retook the lead as Foskey made four saves to keep it a 3-2 game after the first period.
Cumberlands opened the second quarter with
Mason Miller finding Vanover for the goal tying the game at 3-3. The Patriots netted three unanswered goals, in a just over a minute, as Vanover notched an assist and a goal to make it a 6-3 advantage. Foskey made a huge save and recorded a caused turnover to prevent a Keiser scoring opportunity. On the ensuing transition Wilson took it coast-to-coast for the goal extending the lead to 7-3.
Keiser responded with a three-goal run of their own to pull within a goal at 7-6 with 4:33 remaining in the second quarter. Foskey made a save as Schwaiger scooped the ground ball. Cumberlands used great ball movement to work it around as Kava netted a goal off an assist from Rogers to make it 8-6. UC closed out the first half with an 8-7 edge.
The pace picked up in the third quarter with both goalies making key saves. UC extended their lead to 9-7 as Wilson found Kava cutting towards the cage for a goal. Schwaiger and
Cole Bastian each notched a caused turnover over the next few minutes before Wilson laced a shot into the cage giving a UC a 10-8 edge. After Keiser pulled within one, Rogers found Kava in the closing seconds of the quarter for a goal giving Cumberlands the 11-9 advantage.
Opening the fourth quarter,
Owen Hebenstreit put a well-placed shot into the cage to extend the lead to 12-9 23 seconds in. Keiser went on a four-goal run that spanned seven minutes to take a 13-12 lead with 7:02 remaining.
Taylor Long forced a Seahawks turnover and on that possession Kava dodged in and snuck a shot into the cage to even the score at 13-13 with 3:51 remaining. The Patriots made a huge defensive stand to close out regulation and force overtime.
Keiser won the opening faceoff of overtime and Kegan Hufford scored the game-winning goal 23 seconds in for the 14-13 final.
For their efforts throughout the tournament
Nick Kava,
Ty Grooms,
Gabe Schwaiger, and
Nathan Foskey were named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team.
This concludes an historic season for the Patriots, who reach the national championship game for the first time in program history.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on X - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
