The Chestnut Hill College Men's Lacrosse team saw their season come to an end Saturday afternoon as the fell to Wilmington University 9-5 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate conference championship game.
Competing in their seventh CACC championship gamer in eight years, the Griffins lost for only the third time in those seven contests, having finished runner up in 2018 and 2019 before winning four consecutive titles from 2021-24.
Aidan Walsh had two goals and an assist to lead the Griffins. Aidan Owens led the team with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Jonathan Bartolomei also had two caused turnovers. Adam Daley had 17 saves in goal for the Griffins.
Daley, Walsh and Jake Ballerini (five points in semi-final game)Â were named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the championship game.
The Griffins came out flat in the first five minutes of action as the Wildcats scored three times to take an early 3-0 lead. Walsh got the Griffins on the board with an unassisted goal with 4:39 left in the opening quarter.
Four straight goals from the Wildcats in the second quarter put the griffins into a 7-1 hole. Walsh added his second goal, a man-up score with 1:32 left in the period with Will Duddy getting the assist on the play. Wilmington scored once more in the final minute to lead 8-2 at halftime.
Chestnut Hill scored the only two goals in the third quarter and had the first goal in the fourth quarter to pull within three, 8-5 with 10:54 remaining in the game. Collin Swiderski scored at the 11:55 mark of the third quarter and Matt Miller, with an assist from Anthony Arch scored with 2:38 left in the period.  Zach Wright scored the Griffins' final goal at thew 10:54 mark of the final period as the Griffins held a man advantage. Walsh assisted on Wright's goal.
Wilmington added a man-up goal with 4:59 left to round out the scoring. The Griffins forced three turnovers in the final five minutes of play, but they produced just one shot on goal as the Wildcats held on to win the game.
The Men's Lacrosse team concludes their season with a 9-5 record.
