Newport News, Va. – Stockton University (11-8) was knocked out of the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Tournament with a 19-12 defeat to No. 7 ranked Christopher Newport (14-4). The Ospreys were within three goals in the fourth quarter, but the setback brought the 2024 season to a close.
Connor Albrecht (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) led Stockton with three goals and three assists to tie for game-high honors with six points.
Colin Hopkins (Springfield, Pa./Springfield Delco) also scored three goals.
Reegan Capozzoli (Wayne/Wayne Valley) contributed two goals and two assists while
Hayden Smallwood (Margate/Ocean City) tossed in two markers.
Albrecht's first goal tied the game 1-1 in the early going, and the Ospreys stayed within striking distance throughout the first half. Stockton was within 4-2 after a Hopkins counter and later 5-3 on a tally by Smallwood.
CNU extended to 9-3 before goals by Hopkins and
Steven Woolery (Media, Pa./Penncrest) made it 9-5 at the half. The margin was four again at 10-6 and 12-8 before three consecutive markers by the home team resulted in Stockton's largest deficit of the game at 15-8.
The Ospreys gamely tried to rally as Capozzoli hit the net with one second left in the third quarter to spark a four-goal run. Albrecht potted a goal and then Capozzoli and Hopkins struck just 11 seconds apart. Suddenly the Ospreys were within 15-12 with 8:16 left in the game.
The comeback stalled there as Christopher Newport scored four times in a span of 3:17 and downed Stockton 19-12.
Goalkeeper
Ben Blum (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) made 10 saves and
Matt Gibson (Cape May Point/Lower Cape May) produced three caused turnovers.
Tyler Horvath (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) won 20 of 30 faceoffs and his 16 ground balls were four times as many as any other player on the field.
Brett Jackson (4 G, 2 A) and Kevin Miller (4 G, 1 A) paced CNU offensively and goalie Zac Hanway made 14 saves.
With 11 wins on the season, Stockton reached double figures for the eighth consecutive full season excluding the two COVID-shortened years (2020-21) in which the team played just six and nine games respectively.
