Men's Lacrosse: Knights Season Ends at National Championship

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Knights fell Saturday to Onondaga C.C. 11-5 in an NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship semifinal, ending its 2016 season.

It's the second year in a row that the Lazers ended the Knights season. Last year, it was a 16-8 defeat in the national final.

The Knights (16-3) scored the first goal of the game 4:38 into the contest. Sophomore Blake McDonald (Assumption) found freshman Raphael Vargas (Desert Vista) who buried the shot.

That was all the scoring in the first frame, but the Lazers came roaring back in the second, outscoring the Knights 6-1 to take a 6-2 lead into the break.

Sophomore Brandyn O'Connell (Downingtown) scored the first goal of the second half midway through the third to cut the Lazers lead in half.

Sophomore Derek Taylor (Perry Hall) followed with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter to make it 6-4.

After an Onondaga goal, O'Connell scored his second of the game and the fourth quarter began with the Knights trailing 7-5.

In the first 2:25, Onondaga scored two goals to take a four goal lead. They added two more with 6:20 (empty net) and 4:23 remaining to clinch the victory.

Knights stats and honors

Knights freshman Chris Parrott (Havre de Grace) had a great game at the faceoff X, winning 12-of-17 (70.5%), as opposed to his counterparts who won just 7-of-20.

O'Connell's two goals led the team. He also had an assist to finish with a three-point day.

Sophomore Dylan Dooley (The Calverton School) had a goal.

Freshmen Matt Sallade (Manheim Township), Jackson Ehlert (Exeter) and Brody Bartell (Hereford) were named to the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship All Tournament Team.

Sallade was a force on defense throughout the tournament. He finished with five ground balls and two caused turnovers in two games against Union County College and Onondaga.

Ehlert likewise played well, as the long stick had a ground ball and caused turnover and disrupted Owls and Lazers attackers during every shift.

Bartell was solid between the pipes. He recorded 18 saves, while allowing an average of eight goals per game.