BEREA, Ohio – The Capital University men's lacrosse team suffered a 16-13 loss in the OAC semifinals on the road at Baldwin Wallace University. The Comets started the second half slowly and could not quite recover as a late rally proved to be only consolation. 

The Comets concluded their season 9-9 overall and 7-2 in the OAC. BW advances to play John Carroll in the OAC Tournament Championship on Saturday with a 10-6 record. 

Both teams traded blows early as Jake Belt answered a BW goal just 13 seconds after the faceoff to level the score at 1-1. Despite the quick response from Belt, the Comets again fell behind, this time 3-1 after two goals by BW. Again trailing, Capital responded well, tying the game at 3-3 before the end of the first quarter thanks to goals from Mason Spaulding and Jacob Poole. 

In the second quarter, Capital outscored BW 4-3 and carried a 7-6 advantage into the halftime team talk. The push from Capital was spurred by a three-goal run on goals from Spaulding, Belt and Ty Chase. After the Yellow Jackets leveled the score 6-6, Tyler Lieu won the ensuing faceoff and ran down the middle of the field to score, making it 7-6 before halftime. 

After halftime, the Yellow Jackets emerged on the attack, scoring seven goals in the period to flip the script. Goals from Chase and Spaulding briefly halted the run for Cap. 

In the fourth quarter, Capital tried a comeback rally, but four goals in the period proved to not be enough as the final horn rang with the hosts ahead 16-13. Aiden Manning, Chase and Belt (2) came up with the goals in the period. 

THE NUMBERS
Jake Belt led the scoring with four goals, followed closely by three from both Ty Chase and Mason Spaulding. Tyler Lieu, Aiden Manning and Jacob Poole accounted for the others. 

Nathan Montgomery and Max Schillig each had two assists, while Spaulding and Eric Patterson each added a helper. 

In the ground ball department, the faceoff men of Freddy Noday (7) and Lieu (4) led Cap in GBs. Jacob Poole also ended with four pick-ups, while James Howenstine, Mason Spaulding and Eric Pattrson each had three. 

Patterson led the team with two caused turnovers, while Ian Zaletel, Poole, Spaulding, Schillig, and Drew Bolen each had one CT. 

Noday went 12-for-19 in faceoffs, while Lieu was 9-for-13. 

Luc Kadlic made 10 saves in net for Capital.