Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Three AAC Teams Advance to NAIA Semifinal Round

Three AAC Teams Advance to NAIA Semifinal Round

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Seventy-five percent of the semifinal round teams are from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).

Keiser, Webber, and Cumberlands each won their quarterfinal round to advance to the NAIA Men's Lacrosse Invitational semifinals.

The tournament is being held at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park in Pensacola, Fla.

Keiser started off the day with a 19-7 win over Saint Ambrose (Iowa). The eighth-seeded Bees started off the match with a two-goal lead, but the No. 1 seed Seahawks stormed back and reeled off five consecutive goals for a 5-2 lead early in the second. Up 9-4 at the half, Keiser outscored Saint Ambrose 10-3 in the second half to punch its ticket to the next round.

AJ Badik led Keiser with four goals with three other players each netting three. Christian Tomei recorded 16 saves.

Webber then upset No. 4 seed Reinhardt in overtime 13-12. The fifith-seeded Warriors led 12-8 late in the fourth, but the Eagles rallied to tie the game at 12-all with two seconds remaining. However, Chase Jackson set up Christian Tapia for the game-winner with 3:36 left in overtime.

The loss ends Reinhardt's bid for a sixth consecutive national title.

Nick Sheaffer tallied three goals and one assist for Webber with Jackson adding two goals and two assists.

Michael Toohey came up big for No. 3 seed Cumberlands as the Patriots defeated sixth-seeded Concordia (Mich.) 14-8. Toohey recorded 20 saves on the night as Concordia outshot Cumberlands 45-34.

The score was tied three times, but Cumberlands never trailed. Concordia pulled within 7-6 midway through the third quarter, but Cumberlands closed out the match on a 7-2 run to seal the victory.

Christian Vanover notched three goals and two assists, while Tanner Popovich had two goals and four assists in the Cumberlands win.

Keiser and Webber will face off in one semifinal match on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Cumberlands will play the Indiana Tech-Siena Heights winner on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

For more information on the tournament, click here.