Box | Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting Hartwick built a 6-1 lead and held off a furious second-half comeback attempt by Nazareth Saturday as the Hawks defeated the Golden Flyers, 12-10, in Empire 8 Conference men's lacrosse action.

The victory, just the second-ever by the Hawks over the Golden Flyers in men's lacrosse, clinched the fourth and final conference playoff spot for Hartwick, which improved to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the E8. Nazareth's season came to a disappointing conclusion with a 5-12 overall record and a 3-4 mark in conference play. The loss kept the Golden Flyers out of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for only the second time ever. Hartwick's only other win over the Golden Flyers came in 1990. Nazareth had won 25 straight meetings and was 29-1 overall against the Hawks.

In Saturday's game, the Hawks never trailed as they led 4-1 after one quarter and went up 6-1 late in the second before Nazareth rallied. Nazareth's Jacob Gray scored twice in the closing minute of the half to draw the Golden Flyers within 6-3. Nazareth then scored the first three goals of the third quarter to tie the score at 6-6. Hartwick scored three of the next four goals to interrupt the string and close out the third quarter on top 9-7.

Nazareth goals by Gray and Anthony Basile early in the fourth quarter sliced the lead to 10-9, but Hartwick answered again with goals by Cordell Armstrong and David Demand to regain its three-goal lead. Then Paul Walter scored again for Nazareth with :34 left.

Gray, one of 12 Nazareth seniors playing in their final game, finished with four goals. Basile added two goals and three assists. Walter scored twice, while Drew McNerney and Kevin Hussey also had goals.

Armstrong scored three goals for Hartwick, including an unassisted tally with 9:09 left in the first quarter to give the Hawks a 3-0 advantage. Walter put Nazareth on the board with his 30th goal of the season off a pass from McNerney, but Hartwick's Tim Watson scored his first of two goals to make it 4-1 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Hartwick goals by Wyatt Long and Chris VanDemark extended the lead to a seemingly safe 6-1. That's when Nazareth shifted the momentum late in the first half. Gray's first goal came unassisted. Then Basile scoopped up a loose ball and gained an assist on another goal with :02 left in the half.

Hussey scored off a pass from Basile to open the second-half scoring. Goals by McNerney and Gray followed to tie the score with 4:12 left in the third. Hartwick regained the lead just over a minute later on a goal by Armstrong and Watson scored just 49 seconds after that. Basile scored off an assist from Colin mcElligott to cut the lead to 8-7, but Hartwick's Mike Majchrzak scored with just :41 left to make it 9-7 after three.

Nazareth lost despite advantages in shots (33-28), ground balls (33-22) and face-off wins (17-10). The Golden Flyers, however, misfired on eight clears and committed 19 turnovers. Tim Vinton took all 27 face-offs and won 17 with nine ground balls.

Nazareth bid farewell to its 12 seniors before the game: Ben Bickford, Connor Chapman, Gray, Rick Kronenwett, Matthew May, Michael May, Chris Murphy, Jonathan Olbrich, Jason Partridge, Nick Rodin, Gavin Shaner and Walter.