Reinhardt Holds on and is Back in the NAIA Invitational Final

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Men's lacrosse took its hardest punch yet this season and remained standing after holding off Keiser (Fla.), 9-8, in the NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational Semifinals to earn its way back to the championship game for the fourth-consecutive year.

The Eagles passed their toughest test this season as they improved to 16-0.

"Very tough game today against a very good Keiser team," head coach John Snow said. "Extremely proud of how my defense came up huge throughout the game, especially in the last three minutes when they fought off Keiser's furious push. My guys, and Matt Webb, made the plays they had to make to secure the win. Offensively, we struggled to get into a groove consistently. We would play well for five or six minutes and then carelessly turn the ball over the next. We definitely have to clean that up tomorrow. JR Sess did a great job at the faceoff, and Matt Potvin and Carter Maurice were very good on ground balls and helping clear.

"Big one tomorrow… Can't wait."

Reinhardt again started quickly at the National Invitational with a pair of scores in the first five minutes. The Seahawks would answer at 6:41, but the No. 1 team in the country would net one more shot and head to the second period with a lead of 3-1.

Keiser got back on the board just over a minute into the second stanza (3-2), but the Eagles came right back with back-to-back scores for a 5-2 advantage. Each program would score once more before a halftime score of 6-3.

The third quarter saw the defenses take over on both sides as each team only scored once as the deficit for the Seahawks remained at three scores at 7-4 with 15 minutes left in the postseason clash.

Things got interesting in the fourth stanza after the four seed netted two of the first three goals to begin the period, and by 8:40, Keiser was only down, 8-6. Reinhardt appeared to put the game to rest with another three-goal advantage (9-6) with 7:21 left, but the Seahawks had one last monumental run left in them.

The visitors on the scoreboard chipped away quickly with two goals in 35 seconds to make the deficit just one at 5:29 on the clock. Each defense would rise to the occasion and shut down the other offense in the game's biggest moments.

Keiser had the ball for the majority of the final four minutes, but failed to find the back of the net after the nation's top defense again rose to the occasion. The Seahawks were gifted another possession after an Eagle turnover in the final minute, but their attempts went wide, specifically the game's final shot as the buzzer sounded.

Gavin Banks and Conner Mills each tallied three goals in the win.

Matt Potvin scooped up four ground balls – as did JR Sess – and caused three turnovers individually. Matt Webb made nine saves in the cage as well.

The 2021 journey back to the National Invitational Final concludes tomorrow evening with another rematch – against Indiana Tech – with the contest set for 5:30 p.m. following the completion of the women's contest.

It's time to soar for four.

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