The No.2 Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team fell to No.1 Onondaga Community College 15-8 on Sunday afternoon in the Region III Championship at Herkimer County Community College.
The Cougars started off fast scoring the first two goals of the game. Nick Gray got GCC on the board first with a goal at the 13:37 mark. Luke Grahnert had the assist. Gray then set up Christian Reiller who scored at the 10:22 mark to give Genesee a 2-0 lead. Onondaga came back to score the next two goals and the game was 2-2 after one.
GCC started the second quarter the same as the first, scoring two quick goals to take a 4-2 lead. Marcus Palvino and Cam Seneca had the Genesee goals. The Lazers got one goal back late in the second quarter but GCC took a 4-3 lead into the half.
Onondaga took the lead in the third quarter, scoring the first five goals of the period to take an 8-4 lead. Seneca broke the GCC scoreless drought with a goal at the 6:41 mark, one of two goals he scored in the third. OCC led 10-6 after three.
Genesee was unable to draw closer in the fourth as the Lazers outscored the Cougars 5-2 in the final frame to win the Region III Championship and take the #1 seed in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Brady Lawrence played well in net for GCC, making 23 saves on the afternoon.
Seneca led all scorers with three goals, Gray finished the game with a goal and two assists, Reiller added a goal and two assists, Palvino finished with two goals, Saxon Weil chipped in a goal and Blake Hurt, Tyler Skowronski, and Grahnert each had one assist.
Johnny Astrologo and Jordan McElligott led the defense with three takeaways each.
Lawrence, Seneca and Charlie Evans were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
Genesee will enter the NJCAA National Tournament as the number two seed and have a bye until the semifinals. The Final Four will be played May 11th and 12th at Nassau Community College in Garden City, NY.
