Men's Lacrosse: Knights Avenge OT Loss to Dragons, Earn No. 2 Seed in Region XX Tourney

Rosedale, Md. -- On Friday night, the then No. 5 Knights hosted then No. 4 Dragons in a game with Region XX playoff implications.

By night's end, CCBC Essex had avenged an April 6th overtime loss to Howard with a 13-6 victory to secure the number two seed in this week's regional semifinals. 

The win also propelled Essex to No. 4 in the most recent NJCAA Men's Lacrosse weekly poll. 

While the Knights earned a seven-goal win, it came in come-from-behind fashion, as Howard led 2-1 midway through the first quarter. 

It looked like the Dragons made it 3-1 with 4:37 remaining in the open frame, however, Howard's goal was taken off the board due to an illegal stick call. The penalty also led to a three-minute penalty, during which the Knights tied the game at two. 

Kyle Guenther scored the first of his two goals with 36 seconds left in the first to give the Knights a 3-2 lead. 

Guenther, a two-time 2021 NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Player of the Week, is tied for the third most goals scored in the NJCAA with 26.

That momentum carried into the break, as the Knights led 6-2 at halftime. 

Joshua Schelfe scored both of his goals in the first half and would end the game with two assists as well. 

Schelfe is tied with teammate Pat Ruffolo for eighth in the nation with 12 assists this year, in just 10 games. 

The Knights dominated the third, outscoring the Dragons 5-1. Howard could only get as close as four, before Essex ended the quarter on a four-goal run. 

Howard outscored Essex 3-2 in the final quarter, but the damage was already done.

Essex earned the number two seed in this week's regional tournament with the win. They will host Howard again, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The winner will play the victor of number one Harford vs. number four Anne Arundel for the regional championship and automatic bid to the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse National Tournament. 

Braeden Allen had a game-high three goals on three shots. 

Even Clement added two goals and an assist, the latter on a beautifully placed bounce pass to Schelfe in the first. 

Piers McGinn shinned between the pipes for Essex, finishing the game with 17 saves. He leads the nation wit 67 saves and is fourth in save percentage (55.8%) and goals against average (7.67). 

The Knights defense also did its part, forcing nine Dragons turnovers. Nicholas Woodard ended with a game-high three caused turnovers, and is ranked ninth in the nation in the same category. 

Groundballs were even at 31 each, as the Knights' Gannon Tracy finished with a game-high six. He is number three in the NJCAA with 51 GBs this season.