ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - A strong second half carried Chestnut Hill past the Wilmington University men's lacrosse team, 17-8, in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday, hosted by Dominican at O'Brien Field.
It is the fourth consecutive CACC Tournament Championship for the Griffins (11-4), beating the Wildcats in 2021, 2022, and now again in 2024.
On Sunday, the Wildcats (11-4) scored the first two goals of the third quarter to take a 6-5 lead, but then the Griffins took over, scoring 12 of the final 14 goals of the game, including the final six of the game to extend the lead.
TJ Caton and Logan Stinson started the game with early goals as the Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But the Griffins responded with three straight goals in the first quarter, taking a 3-2 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.
Jon Gaglione scored with 11:52 to play in the second to tie the game but then the Griffins answered with back-to-back goals again to retake a 5-3 lead with 4:21 to play. TJ Caton answered in transition with 1:56 to play and then the Wildcats had a goal called off at the halftime buzzer, as Miles Crouse fed Josh Weston with 1.3 seconds to play. But the referees gathered and determined it was after the buzzer, so the Wildcats went into the halftime break trailing 5-4.
Jacob Herman and Logan Stinson scored to start the third quarter, giving the Wildcats a 6-5 lead with 9:11 to play in the quarter. But then it was hard to find the back of the net for the Wildcats' offense, as the Griffins went on a 4-0 run to take a 9-6 lead. Josh Weston scored right in front off a feed from Mile Crouse with two seconds to play, this time counting as the Wildcats were down, 9-7, going into the fourth quarter.
Chestnut Hill scored two quick goals to start the fourth quarter but then Josh Weston finished off some tick-tack-toe passing from Caton and Stinson with 12:12 to play, bringing the Wildcats to within 11-8. But then the Griffins kept gaining control of the ball and scoring, not allowing the Wildcats to fight back into the game. The Griffins' Sam Slater scored four goals down the stretch as Chestnut Hill went on a 6-0 run to end the game and settle on the score, 17-8.
Logan Stinson scored two goals and added an assist while TJ Caton and Josh Weston each scored two goals. Miles Crouse and Jimmy Cava dished out two assists each while Jacob Herman and Jon Gaglione each had a goal. Daniel Flynn made six saves in goal for the Wildcats.
Wilmington's Logan Stinson, Jacob Herman, and TJ Caton were all named to the CACC Tournament Team for their efforts in the postseason.
The Wildcats' 11 wins this season ties a program record, reaching their third CACC Tournament Championship game after winning their second CACC Regular Season Championship.