TAMPA, FLA. – The Maryville men's lacrosse team had its scintillating 2025 NCAA Division II Tournament run come to an end in the National Semifinals with a 12-8 defeat at unbeaten No. 1 Tampa. An historic season finishes with the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title, a program record 14 victories and two wins in the NCAA Tournament for the Saints.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Playing in near record-setting heat, the host Spartans started strongly with three goals in the opening stanza while holding the Saints scoreless. UT pushed the lead to 5-0 before Clayton Cerett circled around the front of the Tampa goal and fired in a shot to get the Saints on the scoreboard. UT scored but Justin Simonson fed Brenden Bloedel camped in front of the UT goal mouth and deposited the ball into the cage. Tampa pushed its edge to 8-2 before Jake Grebe launched a flamethrower into the upper right corner as the Saints pulled to within 8-3 at halftime.
Early in the third, Ben Mickett bounced in a shot for a goal. The Maryville defense withstood a man-down situation and caused a turnover. On the following possession, Grebe fed Colin Tobias on the left wing and he fired in a shot just inside the right post as the Saints pulled to within 10-5 with seven minutes left in the third. The Saints enjoyed their first player-up play opportunity, Simonson shook free on the right side, collected a pass from Cerett and slotted home a goal to pull the Saints to within 11-6 to end the third.
Following the faceoff to start the fourth, Cerett ran in from the right side and put a low shot in to chop the deficit to 11-7 after just 36 seconds. The Saints won the next faceoff but had a shot saved. Maryville took a penalty, and the Spartans converted the chance to restore a five-goal lead at 12-7. The Saints had three strong scoring chances but had the trio of attempts saved. Neither team scored as both defenses clamped down until Eli Backer scored in the waning seconds for the final 12-8 margin.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Goals: Clayton Cerett - 2
Assists: Clayton Cerett - 2
Points: Clayton Cerett - 4
Ground Balls: Shea Raeburn - 7
Caused Turnovers: John Chorlton - 3
Faceoff Wins: Shea Raeburn - 13
Saves: Dylan Radke - 9
RECORDS
(6) Maryville: 14-5
(1) Tampa: 21-0