Keiser/Webber NAIA Semifinals Sees Keiser Men take the 13-9 Win; 6G Run Proves Decisive, Hufford/Niemy 3G each, Rayburn 17/25 for Keiser, Nelson 3G, Jackson/Finlayson 2G each, Prylinski 15 Saves for Webber-Both Recaps
via the school press releases/websites
Seahawks Advance to NAIA National Championship Game with 13-9 Victory Over WIU
No. 2 Keiser Seahawks 13, No. 3 Webber International Warriors 9
Memorial Stadium (Savannah, Ga.)
Records: Keiser 16-2 | Webber Int’l 15-4
Keiser men’s lacrosse advanced to their second consecutive NAIA National Championship game with a four-goal victory over Webber International. AJ Badik scored four points, and Chris Rayburn took possession of Keiser’s season record in face-off wins. (286)
Keiser 3, WIU 3
- The Seahawks struck first when Braeden Niemy got open for a goal one minute into the game. AJ Badik provided the assist.
- Following a KU turnover, the Warriors tied the game.
- Webber committed an illegal body check, and Ryan Rundle was able to convert the man-up opportunity with 12:20 on the board. AJ Badik provided the assist.
- Another KU turnover led to the Warriors scoring again.
- Webber took the lead with 6:10 on the clock.
- One minute later, Orlando natives AJ Badik and JP Prather linked up to tie the game once again.
Keiser 8, WIU 4
- Webber took the lead 19 seconds into the quarter following a face-off win.
- After a KU defensive stand and a successful clear, JP Prather scored unassisted to knot up the game yet again.
- With 7:24 on the clock, a Warrior turnover led to a Kegan Hufford goal that gave Keiser the lead.
- Another WIU turnover led to a Vincent Cerasuolo goal with 4:34 on the board.
- Reese Niemeier caused a turnover with 2:50 remaining, and Braeden Niemy scored to put Keiser up by three.
- The final goal of the half was scored when Marek Albiero assisted on another goal from Hufford.
Keiser 13, WIU 7
- After a lengthy weather delay, play resumed and Zach Crotwell kept the Seahawk momentum going with a goal after a Chris Rayburn face-off win.
- Webber answered with a goal at the 14:33 mark.
- At 13:32, Donovan Barnshaw scooped up a groundball and burned the Webber defense down the field, finding Braeden Niemy for a goal.
- After two scoreless minutes, Jackson Marshall forced a WIU turnover that led to a goal from Ryan Rundle.
- Three minutes later, Kegan Hufford scored to convert a KU man-up opportunity.
- At 7:48, the Warriors committed a slashing penalty, and AJ Badik made them pay with a long range goal.
- Between 4:01 and 3:06, Webber was able to find the net twice.
Keiser 13, WIU 9
- For most of the fourth quarter, the Seahawks played keepaway, taking their time on each possession and draining as much clock as possible.
- The Warriors were able to score goals at 13:06 and 7:44, but Lucas Green and the Keiser defense stood their ground and fended off the Webber offense to send the Seahawks to their second straight title game.
- KU outshot WIU 44-31.
- The Keiser defense caused seven Warrior turnovers.
- Braeden Niemy has scored at least one point in every game this season.
- The Seahawks was nearly perfect on clears, going 19-20.
- Keiser picked up 27 groundballs.
- Lucas Green made six saves.
- Keiser is now 8-5 in the NAIA Invitational Tournament.
- In 10 meetings, Keiser men’s lacrosse has never lost to Webber International.
No. 2 Keiser
Goals: Hufford / Niemy (3)
Points: Badik (4)
Assists: Badik (3)
Faceoffs: Rayburn (17-25)
Ground Balls: Rayburn (4)
Caused Turnovers: Marshall (3)
Saves: Green (6)
No. 3 Webber Int’l
Goals: Nelson (3)
Points: Nelson / Jackson (3)
Assists: Four Players (1)
Faceoffs: Cargile (6-17)
Ground Balls: Fasano (5)
Caused Turnovers: Bryan (3)
Saves: Prylinksi (15)
Keiser will face No. 1 Reinhardt in the NAIA National Championship game this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Savannah Ga.
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Keiser Men’s Lacrosse on X and Instagram.
General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, kuseahawks on Instagram, and kuseahawks on X.
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Warriors Finish Season in Savannah
Savannah, GA – The Webber International Men’s Lacrosse team took on the Keiser Seahawks in the NAIA National Semifinals on Thursday afternoon. In a game that included a multi-hour rain delay, the Seahawks did just enough to hold off the Warriors, as Webber fell 13-9.
Starting Goalie Ryan Prylinski started the game off with a save on the first shot of the game. A Warrior turnover led to the Seahawks scoring first. Blake Nelson scored first for the Warriors with an assist from Christian Tapia. Keiser retook the lead, but Chase Jackson scored from the ground to tie it again at 2-2. Nelson would give the Warriors a 3-2 lead off a feed from Jackson, but the Seahawks were able to tie it 3-3. This score held to the end of the quarter.
Houston Finlayson started the second quarter with a bang, scoring to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead. This would be the only goal scored by the Warriors in the second quarter, as the Seahawks scored five unanswered goals to take an 8-4 lead into the half. At halftime, a lightning delay would keep both teams off the field for an extended period of time.
After the delay, Keiser got on the board first, but a goal from Tapia negated it. The Seahawks scored four more goals before Webber found the net again. Jeremiah Loo scored, before assisting Nelson on a man-up opportunity, making it 13-7 heading into the final quarter.
The Warriors held the Seahawks scoreless in the fourth quarter. Finalyson and Jackson both scored to bring the Warrior deficit to four, 13-9. This would be all the Warriors could muster as at the final horn the Warriors fell 13-9.
Jackson and Nelson each led the team with three points apiece, Jackson on two goals and an assist, and Nelson with a hat trick. Finlayson, Loo, and Tapia had two apiece. Dane Fasano led the team with five ground balls, while Nelson and Alex West had three apiece. Tay’Quan Bryan led the team with three caused turnovers. In the goal, Prylinski ended the afternoon with 15 saves.
The Warriors would like to thank their fans for the continued support all season long.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Warrior Athletics. Please visit www.webberathletics.com. Follow us on Twitter- @WebberAthletics, Instagram- @Webber_Athletics, and Facebook by searching Webber International University Athletics.
