Flashback Friday: Reinhardt Breezes to Third-Straight National Championship

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – (Video Clip) In what could-have-been the eve of another opportunity to plant its flag as the undisputed top team in NAIA men's lacrosse – this year in Savannah, Ga., for Reinhardt's fourth-straight red banner – today's Flashback Friday travels to Grand Rapids, Mich., on May 11, 2019.

A hot start and smothering defense propelled the top-ranked Eagles to their third-consecutive NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational championship with an 11-4 triumph over the host school and sixth-seeded Aquinas (Mich.).

Reinhardt claimed yet another national title after reeling off 16-consecutive victories en route to the championship and a 16-1 overall record.

"We dominated the game offensively and defensively," assistant coach Austin Ambrose said. "We could not have done it without sophomore faceoff specialist Hunter Scott, who went head-to-head with a First Team All-American. Three-straight national championships cements Reinhardt as a dynasty. There isn't a better coach than Coach Snow and this just proves it. I love this team more than anything and I am proud to be a Reinhardt Eagle."

The No. 1 team in the country battled a home crowd feel as the Saints played for the title on familiar territory, but the Eagles used the lively crowd as fuel to net two goals in just over four minutes. John Snow's squad continued to play dominant defense as it forced Aquinas to rush offensive opportunities early in the game.

Reinhardt continued to push the gas and net two more shots in the first quarter to jump ahead, 4-0, after the first 15 minutes of play.

The Saints would get on the board at 12:19 in the second quarter as both teams would alternate two scores in the period and head to halftime with the Eagles 30 minutes away from a title at 6-2.

Reinhardt took complete control of the championship game in the third stanza after a trio of Eagles found the back of the net in less than eight minutes for the score to jump to a seven-goal advantage (9-2). Aquinas would show heart and hit back-to-back goals to get within five at 9-4 early in the fourth quarter, but the hometown squad would bring it home with two answers of its own for the final tallies of the contest.

The 2018 National Invitational MVP, Zane Anderson, had three goals along with Bennett Jarrett. Chad Huffman and Gavin Banks each scored two, while Conner Mills started the scoring with the opening goal.

Matt Webb, the 2019 MVP, was all over the goal with 12 saves in the win.

Banks and Jaylin McCray each scooped up five ground balls.

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