The SCAD Savannah (Ga.) Bees Pull Off the Upset Against Aquinas (Mich.) For the Last Semifinal Spot
DECATUR, Ala. – [Watch On-Demand] SCAD Savannah (Ga.) used a strong second-half rally and late-game execution to defeat Aquinas (Mich.), 13-11, Tuesday night at the Jack Allen Complex for the final spot in the 2026 NAIA Men’s Lacrosse Semifinals on May 14.
SCAD improved to 15-4 with the win, while AQ dropped to 14-4 after leading for much of the opening half. Trailing 8-4 at halftime, SCAD outscored the Saints 9-3 over the final two quarters to complete the comeback.
The opening quarter remained even throughout as both teams traded goals. SCAD received early scores from Noah Moreland and Mason Hickman, while Sebastian Manuel added another off a Hickman assist. Aquinas answered each time, including a late goal from Braeden Williams to tie the game entering the second quarter. Aquinas took control in the second period, outscoring SCAD 5-1 to build an 8-4 halftime lead. TJ Murphy scored twice during the quarter, while Oliver Modderman, Mitchell Pridgeon, and Dillon Wieschhorster also found the net. SCAD committed nine turnovers in the first half and struggled to sustain possessions offensively.
SCAD shifted momentum coming out of halftime. Hickman opened the scoring before Aquinas answered with a man-up goal from Williams to make it 9-5. SCAD then closed the quarter on a 4-1 run, highlighted by an unassisted goal from Jonathan O’Bryant Graves and late goals from Moreland and Hickman. Moreland’s goal with two seconds remaining cut the deficit to 10-9 entering the fourth quarter. SCAD completed the comeback early in the fourth quarter when O’Bryant Graves converted a man-up opportunity off an assist from Manuel to tie the game at 10-10. Manuel later gave SCAD its first lead since the opening quarter with an unassisted goal at the 6:30 mark. After Murphy tied the score again at 11-11, Hickman scored the go-ahead goal off another assist from Manuel with 2:44 remaining, and Manuel added an insurance goal late to secure the victory.
Key Performers
SCAD Savannah
- Sebastian Manuel: 4 goals and 3 assists.
- Mason Hickman: 4 goals and 1 assist.
- Noah Moreland: 3 goals.
- Jonathan O’Bryant Graves: 2 goals, 12 shots, and 6 ground balls.
- Keaton Melcher: 12 saves.
Aquinas
- TJ Murphy: 3 goals.
- Braeden Williams: 2 goals.
- Collin Wildman: 2 goals.
- Ian Wright: 2 assists.
- Austin Hynote: 9 saves.
By the Numbers
- Shots: SCAD 46, Aquinas 34.
- Clearing: SCAD 16-of-22, Aquinas 10-of-19.
- Ground balls: Aquinas 36, SCAD 29.
- Faceoffs: Aquinas won 16 of 25 behind William Larriuz.
- Second-half scoring: SCAD outscored Aquinas 9-3 after halftime.
With the win, the Bees advance to the semifinals on Thursday, May 14, for a 7 p.m. CT opening faceoff against the Keiser (Fla.) Seahawks at Jack Allen Sports Complex.
