Huntingdon advances to first SEILC title game

DEMOREST, Ga. – The Huntingdon men's lacrosse team continued its late-season surge with a 9-7 win over Greensboro College on Friday in the Southeast Independent Lacrosse Championship semifinals.

The SEILC is comprised of the five USA South Athletic Conference members who compete in men's lacrosse. The top four teams advanced to the tournament.

The win was the fourth in five games for Huntingdon (6-12) and sets up a rematch with Ferrum (8-9) on Sunday at noon in the SEILC title game. The Hawks lost to Ferrum 10-5 in the season opener on Feb. 8. Top-seeded Ferrum defeated Piedmont 15-8 in the semifinals.

Friday's win over Greensboro (6-9) was the first for the Hawks in three meetings. Huntingdon lost to the Pride 19-10 in 2014 and lost 14-7 earlier this season.

Junior Jakob Works provided a spark in the semifinal win with six goals and three caused turnovers. Despite missing the first 10 games of the season with an injury, Works has come back strong. In eight games this season, he has scored 30 goals and is second on the team in goals scored this season.

The two teams battled to a 3-3 tie at halftime before Huntingdon pulled ahead by three goals, 8-5, with 4:39 to play in the game. The Pride answered with two goals in 22 seconds to pull within a goal, 8-7, with 2:01 to play. Works scored with 44 seconds left to help seal the win.

Behind Works' six goals, LaDarius Williams added two goals and an assist and Kendrick Ballard scored one goal. Williams leads Huntingdon with 33 goals this season.

Brandon Scheele won 10-of-14 faceoffs and had eight ground balls. Glen Troxell added seven ground balls.

Goalie Fabien Gutierrez played the first half and finished with eight saves and three goals allowed. Goalie Kristian Smith played the second half and finished with six saves and four goals allowed.