Newark, Del. - The 2021 campaign came to a sudden halt for Georgian Court University men's lacrosse as the #3 Lions fell painfully short to #2 Wilmington University, 12-11, in Thursday's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament semifinal contest.

The win provides the Wildcats (5-3) their first appearance in the CACC championship game as the victors move on to face #1 Chestnut Hill College in Saturday's final. Georgian Court, winner of the only two title matches since men's lacrosse debuted as a CACC-sponsored offering prior to the 2018 campaign, ends the season at 8-5.

With the Wildcats coming out of halftime owning a slim 6-5 edge, GCU's Randy Collins came out and opened the third period with two tallies, providing the Lions a 7-6 edge at the 4:55 mark of the frame. Wilmington quickly countered by connecting on four-straight scoring efforts, and six of the contest's next seven, to compose a 12-8 cushion with 6:43 to go.

The aforementioned Collins, looking to put the team on his back and complete the comeback effort for the Lions, rattled off a trio of unanswered tallies to cut the deficit to only one with 2:38 remaining. Able to get only two more shots off over the remaining time, GCU could not slip in the equalizer as clock ticked down to 00:00.

In an incredibly even game in all facets, both clubs fired off 42 shots apiece. Noah Given (Jr.-Middletown, Del.) recorded the win in the Wilmington net with 12 saves. Georgian Court's Austin Geissel, playing the final game of his storied collegiate career, registered 11 saves in the setback. The three-time CACC Goalkeeper of the Year ends his tenure with 1,024 career denials.

Collins ends his senior season with a game-high seven goals for Georgian Court in the nail-biter. Tanner Lee, the leading scorer in program history, closes out his career with a goal and two assists. P.J. Saracino matched his teammate with a tally and two helpers of his own.