DENVER, Colo. – Men's Lacrosse came up short in the BIG EAST Championship, falling to the Georgetown Hoyas by a score of 16-8.
The Hoyas clinched their seventh consecutive BIG EAST title, and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Georgetown recorded three scores before the Wildcats got on board after Matt Licata tore around the cage to net one.
After the media timeout, Villanova rattled off two of the next three goals, one coming from Nicholas Lucchesi and another from Licata, cutting the deficit to 4-3 in favor of the Hoyas.
In the first portion of the second stanza, Georgetown netted two more, holding the three-goal lead until Quinton Cepiel intercepted a pass from GU goalie Anderson Moore and deposited it right back in the net through contact.
Cepiel made his first career start in this contest after scoring six goals through his prior 14 games on the season as a reserve attackman, including one in the BIG EAST Semifinal against Providence.
After scoring once more, entering intermission, the Hoyas led 7-4.
GU outscored the 'Cats 5-1 in the third quarter, with four of their goals coming from All-BIG EAST attackman Aidan Carroll, who tallied a BIG EAST tournament record eight goals in the contest.
Dan Martin found the back of the net for his second goal of the tournament during the third quarter, with the frame ending with the Hoyas leading 12-5.
Georgetown opened the final frame with two, but the Wildcats rebounded to score three goals in 26 seconds from Lucas Newton, Cepiel, and Colin Michener.
VU would be held scoreless for the rest of the contest, over the final 8:32.
Jake Melchionni had a strong all-around game for the 'Cats, tallying an assist, causing a turnover, and picking up three ground balls.
After the game, Licata, Luke Raymond, and Scot Mackie were honored for their performances in the event, being named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Licata scored five goals and dished out three assists across the two games.
Raymond tallied three goals, passed out two assists, and picked up four ground balls in the closing weekend of his career.
Mackie grabbed 11 ground balls and caused a turnover through the two games this weekend.
Licata, one of the most prolific scorers in program history, wraps up his career in 12th all-time with 94 career goals and tied for 11th with 192 career points.
UP NEXT
Villanova will return to action in the fall with scrimmages and will welcome an incoming class of 10 recruits in the next semester.
SOCIAL
For all the latest updates surrounding the program, follow @novalacrosse on Instagram and X.
