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#4 Keiser Men’s Lacrosse Advances to NAIA Semifinals With 13-11 Win

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
via press release – photo via Keiser web site   GAME INFORMATION Score: No. 4 Keiser 13, No. 3 Missouri Baptist 11 Records: No. 4 Keiser (9-1), No. 3 Missouri Baptist (8-5) Location: Sirrine Stadium, Greenville, SC Attendance: 50 Weather: 74, clear skies KU HIGHLIGHTS
  • The Seahawks were making their debut in the NAIA National tournament and advance to the semifinals, where they will face top seeded Missouri Valley.
  • Four Keiser players recorded a hat trick, led by a game-high four from Craig Marentette.
  • Marentette also picked up three assists and finished with a game-best seven points.
  • Justin Stone led the defensive effort with a game-high four caused turnovers.
  • Jake Padden came up big in goal, making 13 saves on the night.
TURNING POINT The turning point came in the first quarter when the Seahawks scored six unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0. HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Missouri Baptist struck first with the opening goal just three minutes into the game, but a Marentette goal evened things up.
  • Keiser claimed their first lead on a Jacob Bomberry goal off an assist by Marentette, with ten minutes left in the first quarter.
  • Eddie Grieco raised the advantage to 3-1 off an assist by Nolan Duncan and Marentette found the back of the net for the second time, forcing the Spartans into a timeout, trailing 4-1.
  • The Seahawks executed a perfect clear with 15 seconds left in the quarter, which led to a Marentette goal, making it 5-1.
  • Duncan opened the scoring in the second but the Spartans finally broke a six goal run by Keiser, making it 6-2.
  • Following Grieco’s second goal of the game, Missouri Baptist netted two straight to climb within 7-4 with 6:13 showing.
  • After a KU timeout with 4:14 to go, Duncan juked the goalie for his third goal of the game.
  • However, Missouri Baptist answered right back but went into the break, trailing the Seahawks 8-5.
  • Marentette broke the scoreless half with a man-up goal in the sixth minute but MBU found the back of the net three minutes later, making it 9-6.
  • The Spartans then scored with 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter to get within 9-7.
  • However, Bomberry bounced a shot past the Missouri Baptist keeper off an assist by Grieco, upping the margin to 10-7 with 12:28 remaining.
  • The Seahawks needed just 16 seconds to raise the lead to 11-7 as Duncan completed the hat trick.
  • Grieco then soared into the air and beat the keeper to the far post, making it 12-7 and forcing Missouri Baptist to call a timeout with 10:51 left in regulation.
  • The Spartans would not go away quietly, as they scored four straight to get within 12-11, with 2:05 remaining in regulation.
  • MBU won the ensuing faceoff, but Christian Buffit forced a turnover in front of the cage with 1:32 left, and the Seahawks were able to clear the ball and call a timeout.
  • Bomberry then sealed the game with 3.1 seconds left, with his third goal of the game off an assist by Marentette, to win 13-11.
TEAM LEADERS Keiser Points: Marentette (7) Goals: Marentette (4) Assists: Marentette (3) Faceoff: Strauss, (10-24) Ground Balls: Stone (7) Saves: Padden (13) Missouri Baptist Points: Mollet (7) Goals: Mollet (4) Assists: Mollet/Hess (3) Faceoff: Dahl (13-19) Ground Balls: Dahl (8) Saves: Ates (10) UP NEXT Keiser will now play the No. 1 seed in the tournament Missouri Valley on Friday, in the NAIA Semifinals at 1:00 p.m. The Vikings enter the game as top team in the country and hold a 14-1 overall record.  

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