Nassau men's lacrosse advances to the NJCAA National Championship semifinal round after defeating #6 Herkimer in a 22-12 quarterfinal victory behind a relentless offensive attack and a decisive second-quarter surge. After a tight and chaotic first quarter, Nassau completely took control of the game with an explosive second quarter and never looked back. The Lions' depth on offense, combined with their dominance in possession and ground balls, proved too much for Herkimer to handle.
With 22 goals and contributions across the lineup, Nassau showcased why they entered the tournament as the #3 seed, and now move one step closer to a national championship.
How It Happened
The game opened at a frantic pace, with both teams trading goals throughout the first quarter. Matt D'Aversa got Nassau on the board first, but Herkimer responded immediately, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle. The Generals used a late surge, including multiple goals from Ryan Hoyt, to take an 8-7 lead into the end of the first quarter despite a last-second goal from Tim Navin to keep Nassau within one.
The turning point came early in the second quarter.
After tying the game at 8-8 on a man-up goal from D'Aversa, Nassau exploded offensively. Cameron Clark, Harley Finklestein, and Luke Hartman all scored during a rapid stretch that flipped the momentum completely. The Lions went on an extended run, outscoring Herkimer 8-2 in the quarter to take a commanding 15-10 lead into halftime.
Nassau continued to dominate in the third quarter, overwhelming Herkimer with pace and possession. Finklestein and D'Aversa each found the net again, while Hartman added multiple goals as the lead ballooned to 21-11. The Lions' control of ground balls and faceoffs allowed them to dictate tempo and keep the Generals on their heels.
Herkimer managed just two goals in the second half, as Nassau's defense tightened and goalie Devin Dubendorf made key saves down the stretch. Hartman capped the scoring midway through the fourth quarter, sealing the 22-12 win and sending Nassau to the semifinal game.
By the Numbers
Up Next
Nassau travels to Bel Air, Maryland for the semifinal game of the NJCAA Championship against #2 Onondaga on Saturday, May 9th at 4 PM.
Stay up to date with Nassau athletics with live streams and stats at
nassaulions.com/watch. Follow the Lions on
Instagram and
X at @lionsncc.
