WATERBURY, Conn. (May 7, 2023) - Georgian Court Lacrosse mounted a tremendous comeback in the CACC Tournament final against Chestnut Hill, but it wasn't meant to be. The Lions, who trailed by as much as five, led by two in the fourth, but couldn't hold on and Chestnut Hill scored the game-winner with four seconds left to lay claim to the 2023 CACC Tournament Championship trophy. The Lions finish the year at 12-6. They set program records for overall and conference wins in a season. 

How it Happened
• Unlike when these teams met during the regular season, Georgian Court held the advantage in the face-off circle, 12-10. However in the fourth quarter Chestnut Hill had a 6-1 edge. 
• Turnovers were a factor, especially early. GCU lost the ball 18 times, seven times in the first period. CHC committed 16 turnovers with seven coming in the third.
• The Lions were 12-19 on clear attempts, which played a part in some of those turnovers. The Griffins crossed the line 12-17 times.
• Shot numbers ended up even as well despite some wild disparities in the first and third quarters. Chestnut Hill outshot the Lions for the game 45-42. They were +12 in shots in the first quarter, but the Lions outshot CHC 20-3 in the third.
• On the ground Georgian Court got to 32-of-62 ground balls, but when the game was tight in the fourth, Chestnut Hill grabbed 9-of-14.

First Half
• Chestnut Hill got on the board first with a goal from Jack Clyne 82 seconds into the game.
• Brett Bridges quickly answered to tie the game less than a minute later. 
• That was all the scoring in the half though for GCU. The Griffins took the lead later in the first quarter following a GCU turnover for a 2-1 lead which was the score after one.
• Chestnut Hill scored all four goals in the second quarter and Austin Jones made four saves to give the Griffins their largest lead, 6-1 at the half.

Second Half
• In the closing seconds of the first half, Chestnut Hill took a penalty that spilled over into the third quarter. Joe Zerr made them pay right away scoring just six seconds into the half to give the Lions some life.
• Later in the third, Hunter Rindos caused a turnover and that led to a Tallen Smith goal, cutting the lead in half, 6-3.
• Georgian Court continued the offensive onslaught getting goals by Vincent Giunta and Brett Bridges less than two minutes apart and suddenly it was a one-goal game.
• That one goal deficit turned into a one goal lead as Smith tied it and 46 seconds later Daniel Burnham gave GCU their first lead, 7-6, with 3:07 to play in the third.
• After Chestnut Hill retied early in the fourth, it was Burnham again giving the Lions the lead with his second goal of the game.
• Two minutes later Giunta made it a two-goal game, 9-7, with 8:39 left to play.
• Chestnut Hill answered right away getting the game back to one. They then tied it at nine with 4:09 left.
• With under three minutes to play, GCU had two cracks at the net, one sailed wide and another was stopped by Griffin goaltender Austin Jones. 
• In the final two minutes, Georgian Court committed two turnovers and the second one proved costly. With just four seconds left to play, the Griffin who scored the first goal of the game, scored the last, giving Chestnut Hill a 10-9 lead and the CACC Tournament Championship in the process.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Vincent Burkhart made 14 saves in goal.
• Vincent Giunta and Tallen Smith each had four points with two goals and two assists each. Giunta scooped four ground balls as well.
• Daniel Burnham and Brett Bridges added two goals apiece.
• Joe Zerr scored on the man-advantage.
• Justin Iannarone was 12-22 on face-offs with seven ground balls.
• Max Dennington caused a pair of turnovers. 

For the Griffins
• Austin Jones came up with 10 saves.
• Cade Johnson scored a game-high four points with three goals and an assist.
• Will Duddy scored three times as well.
• Jack Clyne scored twice, the first and last goals of the game.
• Zach Schultz was 10-22 on face-offs.

News and Notes
• Following the tournament Brett Bridges, Justin Iannarone and Tallen Smith were named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Tallen Smith passed out his 50th career assist, the 50th Lion to ever reach that figure. 
• Joe Zerr matched teammate Daniel Burnham with 13 man-up goals for the most in program history. He finished with nine this season which is a new single season record at GCU.
• Justin Iannarone broke his own record for single-season faceoff wins becoming the first Lion to win 200 in a season. He finished the year with 201. He also set a new GCU single season record with 136 ground balls.
• Georgian Court scored nine goals in both games against Chestnut Hill this season.
• GCU is now 2-1 all-time in CACC Tournament final games. All three have come against the Griffins and all three were decided by two goals or less, two by just one goal.