Panthers Win Program's Eighth National Title
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. - Adelphi men's lacrosse erased a four-goal deficit on Sunday afternoon, en route to a 12-10 defeat of Lenoir-Rhyne to earn the program's eighth NCAA Division II National Championship.
The victory squandered the back-to-back hopes for the Bears, who finish the 2024 campaign at 17-2. The Panthers (17-2) closed out the season with a 15-game win streak - their last loss dating back to March 9 against Rollins College.
"I've got so much joy, and to watch these guys never give up all year long is truly a blessing," said Head Coach Gordon Purdie in the postgame press conference.
Brian Harinski was named the 2024 Division II Men's Lacrosse Most Valuable Player for his four-goal performance, followed closely by Kyle Steinbach who produced a hat trick in the win.
In an evenly-paced first period, Dylan Renner stood out to the tune of eight saves, even thwarting a rebound at the top of the crease in the final seconds, to keep his team tied with the reigning national champions at two-apiece.
The faceoffs made all the difference in the second quarter, with Lenoir-Rhyne capturing possession off all three draws and converting in a span of 2:09, catapulting the Bears to a quick 5-2 lead. The teams traded the next set of goals, with the Panthers staking the last word of the second, when Tucker scored his second of the game with 5:58 til the halftime break.
Leonir-Rhyne continued to press on the gas coming out of the locker room, netting two straight to extend to their largest advantage of the contest at 8-4.
After four scoreless minutes, Brian Harinski recorded back-to-back goals to cut the Adelphi deficit to two with 6:31 left in the third quarter. A Bears goal separated another scoring spurt for the Brown and Gold as they received two straight tallies from Kyle Steinbach to come within one. Both sides peppered the respective goalkeepers with shots as the third came to a close with the Cats trailing by a goal.
Adelphi rode the scoring wave into the fourth quarter, adding three straight, which include Steinbach's eventual gamewinner that gave the Panthers just their second lead of the contest. Logan Tucker found Harinski in what proved to be the nail in the coffin at 6:29 - before the Bears put back a last ditch goal - their final of the 2024 season. Kyle Lewis left his mark as the final tally of the year for the Brown and Gold, sending the National Championship trophy back to Garden City for the first time in 23 years.
The last time the Panthers appeared in the National Championship, Adelphi lost to Mercyhurst in overtime. On Sunday, the Cats avenged that loss and further cemented their spot in Division II lacrosse history with a division-leading eight national titles. This was the Panther's first title as a member of the NE10.
- Recap provided by Adelphi athletic communications -
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
