GREENWOOD - For the first time in program history, the Lander men's lacrosse team will be competing in the PBC Tournament Championship after it defeated Alabama Huntsville 12-11 at Van Taylor Stadium on Sunday.
Lander improves to 12-4 overall while UAH drops to 10-7.
Nicholas Paige made 15 saves including a save in the dying seconds to give Lander the win. Paige moves to 10-3 this season.
Nolan Oakey led the way with three goals while Krew Conroy and Brandon Perkins both had two. Kyle DeCrispino, Conroy, Oakey and Perkins were all tied for the team lead in points with three.
Nick Benoit caused five turnovers and collected two ground balls. James Linn and Sumner Bishop both caused three turnovers as well while four Bearcats caused two turnovers.
Jake Watson won 13 face-offs against the Chargers and picked up nine ground balls as well.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first quarter. Lander attempted 11 shots with eight going on goal.
Conroy would score the opening goal with 12:38 left to give Lander a 1-0 lead before UAH scored with 11 minutes remaining to tie the contest.
DeCrispino and Oakey would both notch goals before the end of the quarter to give Lander a 3-1 lead going to the second quarter.
Lander would outpace UAH 5-3 in second-quarter goals to take an 8-4 lead into the half.
Taking 12 shots in the quarter, Lander put eight on target.
Lander began the period with three unanswered goals coming from Perkins, Carter Wilcox and Conroy to go up 6-1 with 7:53 left.
The Chargers would score back-to-back goals to make it a 6-3 contest before Oakey and Perkins scored to push Lander in front 8-3. UAH would score with 1:06 to make it 8-4.
Fortunes would flip in the second half with the Chargers outscoring Lander.
Both teams would continue to score as the Chargers got within two goals of Lander with a pair of goals to begin the third. Britton Weems and John Weiss added goals to give Lander a 10-6 lead with 7:15 left in the third before the Chargers would strike back seven seconds later to get back within three.
Tyler Kralj would score off a pass from DeCrispino to make it 11-7 before the Chargers would score with under two minutes remaining to make it 11-8.
Paige would need to make six of his 15 saves in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats would only score once as Oakey scored the first goal of the quarter to give Lander a 12-8 lead with 11:45 left in the game.
UAH would score three times to get within one goal of Lander and almost tied the game with two seconds left, but a save from Paige gave Lander the win.
Lander will face and host the winner of No. 2 Flagler and No. 3 Montevallo this coming weekend.
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