Savannah, GA – The third-seed UC men's lacrosse team utilized a six-goal second half run to pull away and knock off #6 Indiana Tech 13-10 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament, Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium. With the win the Patriots advance to the National Semifinals and improve to 14-3 overall, while the Warriors move to 11-5.
Nick Kava led the way for UC recording four goals in the win.
Mason Miller chipped in a hat trick, while
Johnathon Vanover and
Will Rogers tallied a goal and two assists each.
Nathan Foskey made a season-high 16 saves in the win.
Gabe Schwaiger notched five caused turnovers and eight ground balls, while
Owen Hebenstreit scooped four ground balls.
Dakota White and
Michael Adams combined 13-25 on faceoff.
Cumberlands struck first as White took the opening faceoff. On that possession Smith made a strong doge before finishing to put UC in front 1-0.
Ashton Clayburn and Schwaiger notched caused turnovers as Foskey made a save to keep the Patriots in front. The Warriors evened the score a couple minutes later, before back-to-back goals from Vanover and Smtih put Cumberlands in front 3-1 midway through the opening period. Both defense kept up their tenacious efforts making it difficult for either offense to get into a rhythm. Just over a minute remaining in the quarter Vanover connected with Miller for a goal to put UC in front 4-2.
The Warriors took advantage of Patriots penalties scoring a pair of man-up goals to tie the game at 4-4 with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Gabe Schwaiger notched a pair of caused turnovers while
Caden Abbott connected with Miller for a goal putting UC in front 5-4. On the next possession
Jacob Ingle scooped a ground ball and fired it into the cage for his second goal of the season. Cumberlands extended their lead in the closing minute as they worked it around with Vanover finding Kava for a goal to make it 7-4 at the break.
Indiana Tech went on a four-goal run to take an 8-7 lead with 6:04 remaining. The Patriots responded as Rogers connected with Kava for the equalizer. Foskey notched a save, while Miller put Cumberlands back in front with the assists going to
Evan Barton. UC wasn't done as a failed clear from the Warriors led to
Maalek Wilson finding
Will Rogers for the goal making it 10-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
Kava added two more goals as part of three goal Patriot run to open the fourth quarter extending their lead to 13-8 with 9:12 remaining. UC's other goal was a man-up goal from Abbott on the run. Indiana Tech netted two goals, while
Nathan Foskey made four saves in the period for the 13-10 final.
The win was the Patriots first win over Indiana Tech in the postseason as UC advances to the national semifinals for the seventh straight season.
The victory propels Cumberlands into the semifinals, where they will face #7 Madonna, who knocked off #2 Reinhardt. That game is slated for Thursday, May 8 at 6 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium.
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