Keiser Pulls Away in AAC Lacrosse Championship

Marietta, GA - Reinhardt Lacrosse erased an early three-goal deficit and briefly drew level in the first quarter, but Keiser answered with the decisive run Saturday and went on to beat the Eagles 17-10 in the AAC Men's Lacrosse Tournament Championship at Lupo Family Field in Marietta (Life University).

The turning point came after Luke Greer tied the match 3-3 with 4:52 left in the first quarter. Keiser closed the quarter with two goals, including Kegan Hufford's strike at 3:17, then stretched the margin over the next two quarters. After Nolan Marsh pulled Reinhardt within 5-4 at 9:34 of the second, Keiser seized control with a 6-1 surge that carried into the third quarter. Ryan Rundle scored at 3:58 of the second, JP Prather followed at 3:23, and Kyle Davis added a late goal with 29 seconds left before halftime for a 9-5 lead. Rundle opened the third quarter at 13:44, and Hufford was part of the next push as Keiser built a 13-5 advantage.

Reinhardt stayed competitive in key possession areas. The Eagles won the faceoff battle 16-14 and held a 33-32 edge in ground balls, but Keiser made better use of its chances in front of the cage. Reinhardt finished with 42 shots and 24 on goal, while Keiser scored 17 times on 39 shots and got 26 shots on frame. Keiser goalie Lucas Green turned away 14 shots, a major factor as Reinhardt tried to climb back into the game. The Eagles recorded nine saves as a team and held Keiser to 1-for-3 on man-up opportunities, but Reinhardt went 0-for-4 on extra-man chances.

Greer and Benjamin Shackelford led Reinhardt's attack with three goals apiece. Shackelford also added an assist and put 12 shots on net, matching Greer's 12-shot total. Greer's late goal with 20 seconds left in the third quarter cut the deficit to 14-7, and Shackelford opened the fourth at 13:52 to make it 14-8. He later scored again with 43 seconds remaining for the final margin. Marsh also scored in the second quarter as Reinhardt tried to keep pace.

Keiser's balanced offense proved difficult to contain. Hufford finished with four goals and an assist, Rundle had three goals and two assists, and Davis supplied two goals and four assists. JP Prather added two important first-half goals, and AJ Badik and Zach Crotwell each scored in the fourth quarter as Keiser answered every Reinhardt push. Quarter by quarter, Keiser outscored the Eagles 5-3, 4-2, 5-2 and 3-3.

Reinhardt finished with 14 successful clears on 18 attempts and committed 18 turnovers. The Eagles had their best offensive stretch late, scoring three times in the fourth quarter, but the gap created by Keiser's middle-quarter run never fully closed, and Shackelford's goal in the final minute set the championship's closing score at 17-10.

The Eagles will now focus on the NAIA National stage to see where they end up in the seeding.  Reinhardt will be going into the national tournament ranked #5 overall, tied with Indiana Tech. The tournament for both the men's and women's lacrosse nationals will be held in Decatur, Alabama, during the week of May 11th - 15th. Stay tuned to NAIA.org for more information on the tournament bracket.

AAC All-Tournament Team (Reinhardt)

Benjamin Shackelford, Joey Amatulli, and Austin Scales