LATROBE, Pa. (Apr. 27)- The Saint Vincent men's lacrosse team defeated Chatham 12-6 in the regular season finale under the lights at UPMC Field on senior night for the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcats (8-8, 6-2 PAC) led the Cougars (9-8, 4-4 PAC) 11-4 at the halftime break, before the teams combined for just three goals in the second half, allowing Saint Vincent to earn the victory in the regular season finale.
 
Saint Vincent was led by Carter Haid and Jordan Billet, who both scored three goals in the win. Billet also assisted on a goal as well. Justin Wodarek and Tyler Harpst both added two goals, while Wodarek also assisted on a goal and Harpst assisted on two.
 
Jacob Crumling and Liam McCall both added a goal as well. Brady Beard went 14-21 in the faceoff circle, scooping up a team-high ten ground balls for SVC. Cam Herring and Bernard Farnan both scooped up four ground balls each for the Bearcats as well.
 
Farnan added three caused turnovers and R.J. Kenna picked up three ground balls and four CTs for SVC. Shawn Ryan added two caused turnovers in the win for the Bearcats as well.
 
Jack Zayas picked up the win in goal for Saint Vincent, making nine saves, while allowing just six goals.
 
SVC controlled the pace of play for the majority of the game, outshooting the Cougars by a 46-28 margin.
 
Less than a minute and a half in, the Cougars scored the opening goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead, but from that point on it was all Bearcats.
 
Saint Vincent scored the next three goals to take the lead. First, Crumling tied it and then Haid scored an unassisted goal as well with the man-up to take a 2-1 lead. Billet put the Bearcats up 3-1 with a goal with 9:58 to go in the first quarter.
 
Chatham ended the Bearcats 3-0 run, before Billet scored again scored again on an assist from Wodarek, increasing the SVC lead to 4-2. Chatham cut the lead back to one with a goal, but the Bearcats added two more goals before the quarters end.
 
Harpst scored with 2:39 to go and less than a minute later Haid scored his second of the quarter to give Saint Vincent a 6-3 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
 
SVC carried their momentum from the end of the first quarter into the second quarter. The Bearcats outscored Chatham 5-1 in the second quarter. Five different goal scorers scored for Saint Vincent in the quarter.
 
Harpst, Haid, Wodarek, Billet, and McCall were the SVC goal scorers in the quarter. It was a low scoring second half as Chatham held a slight 2-1 advantage in the entirety of the half. The Bearcats lone goal was scored in the fourth quarter by Wodarek.
 
The Bearcats were 19-24 on clear attempts, while they also led 32-21 in ground balls. Saint Vincent was 2-5 on extra man opportunities, while Chatham was 0-3.
 
After the game, the Bearcats honored their senior class, one of the most successful senior classes in Saint Vincent history. Ryan Ramos, Nick Carter, Benjamin Wohlin, AJ Bricker along with Kenna, Farnan, and Haid were honored for SVC.
 
Saint Vincent has earned the number three seed in next week's PAC Championship Tournament. The Bearcats will take on second-seeded Allegheny on Wednesday, May 1 in the PAC semifinals. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Allegheny.