ELIZABETHTOWN, PA - Though the Susquehanna men's lacrosse team never trailed by more than four goals in Thursday's Landmark Semifinals matchup against Elizabethtown, their comeback rallies seemed to flame out one goal shy of tying the game as the River Hawks' season ended in a 12-8 Blue Jays advantage. 

Elizabethtown had many chances to break the game open, especially with winning 17-of-22 faceoffs and a 53-29 lead in shots, including 25-17 in shots on goal and the only two extra-man opportunities in the contest. Susquehanna, however, dug in its heels and made every effort to keep the game close like last week's regular-season finale. The Blue Jays got out in front first when Finn Kristan found the back of the net just over five minutes in. The River Hawks evened the score five minutes later as Reese Ackerman delivered the game-tying goal on an assist from the national leader in assists Jack Gaillard, who not only used his 62nd assist this year to help knot the game up, but helped him amass 100 points on the season. Elizabethtown got back in front after Tristan Coleman scored from Joey Kilpatrick to lead 2-1 for what appeared to be the score after one quarter. But with 2.6 seconds left on the clock, the Blue Jays were set up in front of their bench ready to throw the ball back in bounds. Jay Rodriguez spotted Lucca Scomillio, who swiftly sweeped the ball past goalie Augie Granatelli to beat the clock and hold a 3-1 lead after one. 

While the Blue Jays opened up a 4-1 lead from a Graham Temple score, the River Hawks kept battling and worked their way back to a one-goal game by the start of the third quarter. It all started when Pat McDermott got the team's second goal from another assist by Gaillard, then after another E-Town score by Coleman, Gaillard fired off his first goal of the day in dramatic fashion. Granatelli, who finished with 13 saves on the day, saved a point-blank shot attempt from Landon Scully. He moved the ball up the field past the restraining line. He found Gaillard on the other end of the field and launched it, with the points centenarian offering up a quick score and a 5-3 E-Town lead to end the first half. 

Susquehanna quickly made moves to start the second as the program's all-time career goals leader Brennan Lorence got the call to make it a one-goal game just over two minutes into the third quarter. It became a game of cat and mouse as Elizabethtown would counter every River Hawk move to regain at least a two-goal lead. This happened three times during the third as Jake Woodworth scored with 11:11 left in the third to go back up by two at 6-4. Lorence again scored to cut the lead in half, only for Rodriguez to score again for the Blue Jays to make it 7-5 with 6:58 to go in the third. Fellow senior and team goals leader Chris Ciccarello gave Susquehanna another chance with his 62nd goal of the season, tying the school record, to cut it to 7-6. This time, however, Elizabethtown not only countered with a goal shortly after, but scored the remaining two goals of the third quarter to lead 10-6 going into the fourth. Susquehanna continued to fight mightily as Ciccarello made history with record-breaking goal 63 on the season and 128 of his career to start the fourth, but Elizabethtown managed another goal to counter from Kristan on a man-up opportuniy. Ackerman scored what would be the River Hawks' 274th and final goal of the season, as well as his 17th in an impressive sophomore campaign with 24 points to his credit. With time running out the Blue Jays added one more score from Scully. 

Thursday's contest marked the end of another impressive season for Susquehanna and 18th-year head coach Stewart Moan. Finishing the season 13-6, they earned the sixth and final seed for the Landmark Conference Tournament with a 5-4 conference record in a stacked conference race. They then became the first sixth seed to advance in the Landmark Men's Lacrosse Tournament when they took down Drew 13-7 on Tuesday to mark a season sweep of the Rangers. As previously mentioned Gaillard became the first Susquehanna men's lacrosse player ever to cross over 100 points in one season on 39 goals and 63 assists for 102 total, while his 263 career points on 102 goals and 161 assists stands alone. Ciccarello came close to the century mark as well with 95 points on the year, good for second all-time on a new school record 63 goals with 32 assists. Lorence finished up his time in orange and maroon with a Landmark-record 194 career goals on 237 points, good for second all-time, and 43 assists. All three received praise on the All-Landmark Team this week, along with fellow seniors defenseman Aidan Kennedy, Kieran Thomas and Marshall Woodrosky. Goalie Granatelli wrapped his career in goal with a 17-6 career record and 309 career saves.