GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Concordia University Irvine men's lacrosse team saw its season come to a close on Saturday, despite a hearty effort in the RMAC Division Championship Game.
Facing top-seeded Colorado Mesa on this stage for the second straight year on the home field of the Mavericks, CUI had high hopes of pulling the upset. CUI even out-shot Colorado Mesa in this contest, 46 to 44.
RMAC Attacker of the Year Jeremy Barnes scored twice, while fellow
First Team All-Conference selection Chad McFadden also tallied two goals and added an assist.
However, the Mavericks were rude hosts to start this playoff game, scoring five unanswered goals before CUI net its first score courtesy freshman
Noah Pillow.
CUI scored three of the next four goals to move within two. After a pair of man-up opportunities presented itself, the Golden Eagles took advantage by cashing in with goals by Barnes and McFadden. That trimmed the deficit to 6-4.
It was a 7-4 game in favor of Colorado Mesa at the break.
Matt Carresi found McFadden for another goal early in the third during a man-up situation.
Less than two minutes of the clock had ticked off before CUI's
Parker Teel scored off a pass from
Brody MacDonald. That put CUI within one by a count of 7-6.
Colorado Mesa responded however with eight straight goals over the course of the rest of the third and fourth periods. The defense also went up a notch as CMU goalie Shaden Shields had a day to remember with a season-high 20 saves for the Mavericks.
Recently named RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year Daniel Yang also played well and made nine saves to help the cause. Yang became the first Concordia goalie in the NCAA DII era to collect 100 saves in back-to-back seasons. The senior finishes the campaign with over 250 career saves.
Cade Poe won seven face offs and had six ground balls. Teel and
Colin O'Connor also scooped up four ground balls apiece.
CUI ends the season with an 8-7 overall record as the No. 2 seed in the RMAC Division of the Peach Belt Conference.
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