Nassau Community College heads into the NJCAA National Semifinals with a clear focus and a chance to compete for a national title, as the Lions prepare to face Onondaga Community College this Saturday at 4:00 PM. The national tournament is being hosted by Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland, with the championship set for Sunday.
For Nassau, the semifinal represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Earlier this season, the Lions fell to Onondaga 19–11 in a high-paced matchup that showcased Nassau's offensive potential but also exposed areas for growth. Now, with a national championship berth on the line, Nassau enters the rematch determined to flip the result.
In that previous meeting, Nassau's offense proved it could generate scoring chances against one of the nation's top programs.
Tim Navin led the way with four goals, consistently finding openings and attacking aggressively.
Luke Hartman added three goals and an assist, while
Harley Finklestein contributed two goals and two assists, highlighting the Lions' ability to produce from multiple offensive threats.
Alex Kershis also played a key role with a goal and two assists, helping facilitate ball movement and create opportunities.
Despite the loss, Nassau showed resilience throughout the contest. The Lions battled through four quarters, generating 45 shots and putting 20 on goal. Their offensive stretches—particularly in the third quarter—demonstrated their ability to score in bursts and keep pressure on opposing defenses.
Defensively, Nassau will look to tighten key areas in the rematch. In the first meeting, Onondaga capitalized on possessions and faceoff control, which limited Nassau's opportunities. Improving in those areas will be critical as the Lions aim to control tempo and maintain offensive rhythm. Goaltender
Quinn Napolitano recorded 16 saves in the earlier matchup, a performance that will be vital to build upon against a high-powered offense.
Heading into Saturday, Nassau's identity is clear: a balanced attack, multiple scoring options, and a group that has continued to improve since that early-season meeting. The Lions have the experience of facing Onondaga already, and that familiarity could prove valuable in a high-stakes postseason environment.
With a spot in the national championship game on the line, Nassau will look to execute, control possession, and capitalize on scoring opportunities. A win would send the Lions to Sunday's title game against the winner of Harford Community College vs. Howard Community College, bringing them one step closer to a national championship.
The stage is set in Bel Air, and Nassau enters the semifinal ready to compete.
