The Chestnut Hill College Men's Lacrosse team held off a late rally from host Post University Wednesday afternoon, defeating the eagles, 9-8 at LaMoy field in Waterbury, Connecticut.
With the win, the Griffins clinch the #2 seed for the upcoming Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship and a first round bye. The Griffins will host #3 seed University of Bridgeport at victory Field #1 on Wednesday, April 29.
The Griffins improved to 8-4 overall and finished the regular season with an 8-1 conference record. The Eagles finish 5-3 in league play and are 9-6 overall.
Jake Ballerini led the Griffins, tallying four points on two goals and two assists. Preston Page and Matthew Miller also had two goals apiece.
Silas Charles led Chestnut Hill with four caused turnovers with Daniel Myers adding three. Aidan Walsh, Miller and Aidan Owens had four ground balls apiece. Adam Daley made 17 saves in goal in the winning effort.
The Griffins held a three-goal lead with just 1:09 left in the game when Eagles rallied to score twice in the final minute of action scoring with 47 seconds left and then again with just 17 seconds left to pull within one 9-8. Ther Eagles won the ensuing faceoff in the final seconds, but Charles caused a turnover as time was about to expire to seal the win.
Chestnut Hill never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter via goals from Will Duddy and Miller. The Eagles Leighton Cooke scored the first of his five goals with 1:24 left in the opening period to pull the hosts within one 2-1.
Goals from Charles Cox and Page in the second quarter increased the Griffins lead to 4-1. The Eagles again closed to one with two more goals from Cooke before halftime, cutting CHC's lead to 4-3 at the break.
Ballerini had the first of his two goals at the 8:49 mark of the third quarter with Cox getting the assist on the play to make the score 5-3. The Eagles had another two gals to tie the game at 5-5 before Ballerini put the Griffins back on top 6-5. Cooke tallied his fifth goal of the game with just under a minute remaining, tying the score again at 6-6 as both teams headed into the final period.
Chestnut Hill score three unanswered goals, first by Page followed by Miller. Cole Pedroso scored the Griffins' final goal with 1:09 left to give CHC a 9-6 lead before the eagles started their rally which fell just short.
The men's lacrosse team will play on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at victory field, hosting the #3 seed University of Bridgeport in the CACC Semi Finals.
