DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – A record-breaking season for the Roberts Wesleyan College men's lacrosse team came to an end as the fourth-seeded Redhawks fell to top-seeded Mercy College 17-11 in the East Coast Conference Tournament semifinals on Wednesday.
Roberts (10-5), which set a program record for wins this season, took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Michael Pierog before the Mavericks (13-1), who are ranked second in the nation in Division II by both USA Lacrosse Magazine and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association scored five straight.
Roberts rallied to tie the game at 6 on a goal by Hunter Lemieux with 5:17 remaining in the half. Lemieux's goal capped a 3-0 run over a period of 4:24. The Mavericks then closed the half on a 3-0 run to take a 9-6 lead at the break.
The Redhawks battled back and pulled within 13-11 on a man-up goal by Jordon Deats with 11:30 to play, but Mercy finished the game on a 4-0 run to secure a spot in Saturday's 3 p.m. championship game at Mercy.
Lemieux closed out his spectacular career with four goals and two assists to lead the Redhawks. The senior from Lockport, N.Y. will graduate as the program's all-time leader in goals (201) and points (264). He set program records with 61 goals and 82 points this season. Dom Cianfarano set the previous records of 50 goals and 65 points in 2013.
Reid Jackowski added three goals while Deats, Pierog and Dan Doviak all finished with a goal and an assist. Dan Doviak added one goal. Sophomore Luke Delavak led Roberts with five ground balls and Aidan Sheehan made nine saves.
Graduate student Mitch Streety won four face-offs and departs as the program's career leader in face-offs (569) and ground balls (322). Streety also set single-season records for ground balls (137) and face-offs won (237) in 2022. He eclipsed the ground ball mark of 136 set by Sam Schubach in 2019 and the face-off total of 204 established by Anthony Nucci Lauria in 2013.
Jackowski finished with 37 assists to set a new single-season program mark. Matt Gademske recorded 24 assists last season.
Dominic Scorcia led the Mavericks with five goals.
Mercy held a 23-7 advantage in faceoffs and a 44-23 edge in ground balls. The Mavericks will play Frostburg State, a 21-6 winner over Molloy College, in the final.
Roberts lost to four teams this season and three of them (No. 2 Mercy (twice), No. 3 LeMoyne and No. 8 Mercyhurst) are ranked in the top 10 of the USILA poll.
Mercy defeated Roberts 7-5 in the 2021 ECC title game.