The Dynasty in Waleska Continues

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Reinhardt men's lacrosse finished the season 17-0 for the first time in program history after dismantling No. 2 Indiana Tech in the NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational Final, 17-8, to claim its fourth-consecutive NAIA red banner and bring it back to Waleska, Ga.

The hometown team hadn't felt this feeling in two years due to COVID-19, and it seemed to come out of the gates on a mission to prove that the Eagles were still the standard in NAIA men's lacrosse; and it was successful.

"Couldn't be prouder of a group of young men," head coach John Snow said. "They've been committed since day one to being the best team in the country, and it takes a lot of hard work and determination, and they brought that intensity every single day. The first two games of the tournament we did not play our best, so I challenged them before the game to play how I know they can play... And they delivered! We came out fast and extremely disciplined, and executed our game plan to perfection. We knew they were going to be aggressive defensively, so we wanted to counter that with our own aggressiveness. We have an extremely talented group and they all stepped up on the biggest stage. Four national championships in-a-row is almost unheard of. These guys amaze me every day.

"I'm so proud to have been able to coach this group. Undefeated and four-time defending national champions... Doesn't get any sweeter than that… #WeAre_RU."

Reinhardt put together its best effort of the 2021 postseason and completely left no doubt in the outcome after storming out of the gates, 8-1, in the opening quarter. The scoring got started in just over three minutes and continued throughout the next 10 minutes after the Eagles broke the defensive presser to find open shots and find the back of the net – resulting in a 6-0 run to finish the stanza.

The second period was much more subdued, but Conner Mills and Gavin Banks each scored again to help the squad head to the locker room up, 10-1. The Warriors fell down by 10 goals at 11-1, but put together its best stretch of lacrosse to tally three-straight scores on the scoreboard to lower their deficit to 11-4.

The hometown squad had its biggest response of the year after netting two more shots in just 11 seconds to head to the final 15 minutes in front by nine at 13-4.

Both teams would alternate goals the rest of the way after both clubs found the back of the net four times and Reinhardt held an 11-goal advantage on multiple occasions.

Banks – the NAIA Player of the Year – notched a game-best five goals and two assists, while Mills, who was named the Invitational MVP, earned four netted shots and five dimes in the victory.

Additionally, Kyle Banks and Dillan Bousquet collected three netted shots each.

First Team NAIA All-American goalie Matt Webb was again superb in the cage with 13 saves in nearly 60 minutes of action.

Following the triumph, Coach Snow was named the NAIA Coach of the Year once again.

Indiana Tech had 20 turnovers, and JR Sess (18-for-26 on faceoffs) added six ground balls along with Matt Potvin in the triumph.

The dynasty continues as it looks for five-consecutive championships in 2022.

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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Lacrosse, please click here.