Men's Lacrosse: Knights Resilient in National Semifinal, Come up Just Short vs. Eventual Champion Lions

By Rocco Geppi

Garden City, N.Y. -- The Knights returned last weekend to the national stage, taking on Nassau in an NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship semifinal.

Although Essex fell 13-11 to a Lions team that would win the national title a day later, the Knights proved its program is back to being a national contenter. 

"I feel really good for the older players that have been here, and for the administration and support staff that have helped get us back into the mix," said Knights head coach Shawn Burke. "All of these folks have worked very hard, so the positive result is really a reflection of their commitment to our program's success."

Jacob Lantz (Perry Hall, Md.), Evan Clement (San Diego, Calif.) and Gunnar Kovell (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) were named to the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship All-Tournament Team. 

Lantz received his second start of the season between the pipes and he did not disappoint. The Eastern Tech alum stopped 15 of 25 shots, including six saves in the fourth quarter. 

He also saw the bulk of the action in the Knights quarterfinal match against Anne Arundel and finished that game with seven saves. 

It took just over nine minutes for the first goal of the game to be scored. 

Nassau's Tim Brockwell scored on an assist from Matt Russo. With 20 seconds left in the first quarter, the Lions added another goal to take a 2-0 lead. 

After Nassau had taken a 3-0 lead, Pat Ruffolo (Vienna, Va.), Ryan Frick (Glen Burnie, Md.) and Gabe Lichtenstein (Pikesville, Md.) each scored to tie it. 

Nassau ended the half on a three-goal run to take a 6-3 lead into the break.

"We told the team at halftime that Nassau is who we thought they were," Burke said. "And that if we played Essex lacrosse, we would be in position to win the game."

The Knights (9-5) pulled to within one at 8-7, scoring four of the third quarter's first four goals. 

Noah Park (Finksburg, Md.) scored a man-up goal 22 seconds into the third and Ruffolo followed with his second at 12:31.

Clement and Evan Park (Finksburg, Md.) added the other two goals. 

Nassau put the pressure on with a five-goal run to end the third and take a 13-7 lead into the final quarter. 

Essex battled back again, scoring four goals in the first half of the fourth, as Braedan Allen (Warrenton, Va.) and Kyle Guenther (Haymarket, Va.) both collected a pair.

But the eventual national champions held the Knights scoreless over the remaining 7:23. 

"I think it speaks volumes about the competitive character of this years team," Burke said of his team's 'never say die' mentality. "Our goal now is to make that part of our DNA and who we are year in and year out."

Guenther finished the season with 38 goals and 49 points, tied for second and fourth, respectively, in the nation. He also had the third most shots (80) in the NJCAA.

Josh Schelfe (Pasadena, Md.), who had two assists against Nassau, ended his season with 25 helpers, good for second best in the NJCAA. 

Lantz finished with the fewest goals against (35) and third best goals against average (7.36) among qualifying goalies in the NJCAA. 

"I think the closeness of this group of young people through a historically difficult time in our world is one of the things I'll remember most," Burke said. "And the fact that they overcame all of that through their hard work and dedication to re-establish our program to compete at a national level. It's truly an amazing group of young men."