DANVILLE, Ky.- On Friday evening, the No. 1 seeded Centre men's lacrosse hosted the fourth seeded Birmingham-Southern (BSC) in the 2023 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Semifinals. After taking an early lead, the Colonels clinched revenge, downing the Panthers by a score of 17-16 after suffering their only conference loss to them earlier this season. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels got off to a slow start as Sewanee held a 2-0 lead for much of the opening quarter. With just 30 seconds remaining, Ryan Black netted Centre's first goal unassisted. In the very next possession, Mick Ginnity tied the game with a buzzer beater, making it an even game entering the next period. 
- Centre stretched their score run to five after placing three unanswered goals to open the second quarter. Christian Underhill claimed the first, Will Hubbs following with an unassisted goal. Ridr Knowlton closed the scoring run after connecting with Davis Wilmes, moving Centre three possessions ahead of the Panthers. Nearing halftime, the Colonels would more than double their point deficit with additional goals from Paxton Brown, Ginnity, Knowlton, and Black. BSC set in a final goal to close the first half, moving the score to Centre nine, BCS five.
- Out of the break, both teams began to trade 2-0 runs, BSC opening with two in the first minute. By the end of the third period, the Colonels bettered the Panthers by one point, finding five goals in Miguel Sayers, Alex Mozingo, Duncan MacDonald, Hubbs, and Ginnity. 
- Opening the final quarter, Centre held a five-point lead over their competitors. Black initiated the period's scoring with his fourth goal of the game. Shortly after, the Panthers steadily began to chip away at the Colonels' lead. Knowlton would lay in Centre's next point but not before BSC tallied four unbroken goals. Nearing the end of regulation, the Panthers maintained the momentum, adding three goals that would tie the game. With 90 seconds left on the clock, Ginnity connected with Knowlton to put in the game winning goal. Just after, MacDonald secured the win by taking the next face-off, keep the essential possession with Centre until the clock ran out.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Black led Centre in goals with four, adding an assist. Knowlton and Ginnity each took a hat-trick while Hubbs netted two.
- At the face-off, Mozingo represented Centre well. The senior won 20-34, adding a career high of 13 groundballs.
- Andrew Kahn tied for the game's lead in caused turnovers with two. 
- In goal, Sammy Zickel collected eight saves and led the Colonels to 17-19 clears.
 

NEXT UP
After tonight's win, the No. 1 seeded Centre will host the No. 2 slotted Sewanee in the 2023 SAA Championship game. They face-off at 1 p.m. ET, on Joe McDaniel field.