Jackets Fall Short in Last Minute of SELC Final
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket lacrosse team traveled to Jacksonville, Florida for the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference tournament. The Yellow Jackets won first place in the SELC North region and as such had a bye into the semi-finals. The Jackets faced the Florida State Seminoles who beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinals.
The semi-final game was a rematch of a regular season game from early April that the Jackets won 15-9. The Seminoles got on the board first and had an early lead just like the first meeting. The lead was short-lived as the Jackets would score nine of the next ten goals to take a 9-2 lead at halftime. The third quarter was more of the same as the Jackets lead 16-4 at the end of the quarter. The Jackets were able to play the vast majority of their roster in the game and ended up winning the game 18-9. Tech was lead by Sam Eck who scored seven goals and added three assists. Defensively the Jackets played strong team defense with quick slides knocking the Florida State dodgers off their intended path and throwing the Seminoles offense out of Rhythm.
The Jackets would face the winner of the other semi-final between South Carolina and Florida. The Gamecocks defeated the Gators to meet the Jackets in the championship game, setting up a rematch of the last SELC championship in 2019. The game was also a rematch of a game from March 18, that the Jackets were able to win 12-8. The Jackets scored the first two goals of the game. The Gamecocks responded and tied the game before the Jackets scored a third goal to nose out in front once again. The Gamecocks would respond once more to finish the first quarter tied at three. The second quarter was more back and forth. The Jackets scored the first two goals of the quarter including a goal from Zach Schenken that was assisted by goalie Gino Pagliaro on a long pass across the field. The Jackets would work their way to an 8-5 lead in the quarter which was the largest lead by either team in the game. South Carolina responded by scoring two goals to close the quarter, giving the Jackets an 8-7 lead at halftime.
In the second half the back and forth battle continued as the Gamecocks scored the next two goals to take a 9-8 lead. Brooks Baro tied the game dodging to the middle and placing a shot high over the South Carolina goalie. The Gamecocks would respond, retaking the lead before Asher Wagnon and Devin Raun scored back to back goals to put Tech in front once again. Over the last three minutes, South Carolina scored four goals to take a two goal lead into the fourth quarter at 14-12. Wagnon scored again to pull the Jackets back within one. The Gamecocks would answer once again. Nick Witten and Nick Eliacin scored consecutive goals to tie the game once more. With less than a minute left, the Gamecocks scored a diving goal that proved to be the eventual game winner. South Carolina added one more goal on an empty net while the Jackets tried to double to get the ball. The Jackets fell by a final of 17-15 in a back and forth game with seven ties and no lead larger than three goals.
The Jackets now wait for selection Sunday and hope to be selected for an at large bid for the MCLA National Tournament in Round Rock, Texas