WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The St. John Fisher College men's lacrosse team fell short in the Third Round of the NCAA Division III Championship on Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals were defeated by No. 5 Williams College by a score of 17-12. Fisher wraps up its historic 2019 season with a 17-3 overall record, while the Ephs improve to 17-3 and will await their next opponent in the Fourth Round.

The 2019 season was the most successful in program history to date as Head Coach Dave Dobbins led the team to 17 wins, which broke the all-time single season mark for wins in a season. The Cardinals' only three losses came versus top-12 opponents, while the team also captured its first Empire 8 Conference Championship title and its first NCAA Tournament victory.

Nicholas Miller led the Cardinals offensively in the Third Round as the sophomore attackman finished his record-setting campaign with a game-high five goals, bringing his season total to 82.

Goalkeeper Darin Eakins wraps up his first season in a Fisher uniform with a 14-3 overall mark as the junior finished the matchup with Williams with 14 saves.

Williams opened up the game's goal scoring as the Ephs put their first two tallies on the scoreboard within the opening seven minutes of action.

With exactly one minute remaining in the first quarter, senior Chance Gates scored the first Fisher goal as Danny Turck picked up the assist to help cut the Ephs lead back to one goal.

From there, Williams would go on the offensive as the Ephs gained some momentum and would score the game's next five goals before the halftime break, increasing their lead to 6-1.

Following an opening third quarter goal by Williams, Fisher gained some momentum of its own and found the back of the net four straight times, cutting the lead to only three goals over a four and a half minute span.

Kicking off the Fisher goal scoring run was a goal from the Second Round hero Joran Depetres, which was then followed by tallies from Miller, Turck, and Ian Evans.

From there, both sides would trade a pair of goals before the third quarter of action would come to an end, as goals from Depetres and Miller would cut the Williams lead to five as the teams headed into the final 15 minute quarter.

As the fourth quarter got underway, Miller's goal scoring magic would continue as the Ithaca native scored back-to-back goals, pulling Fisher to within three goals early on in the final quarter.

Over the next six minutes of game time, the Ephs would add four goals to their total, while another tally from Turck kept the Cardinals within five goals.

As the two minute mark approached, the duo of Miller and Depetres struck once more as the Cardinals were able to pull to within four goals once again with 2:30 remaining in the fourth.  

However, Williams closed out the Third Round affair with a late goal at the 1:46 mark, sealing its way to the Fourth Round of the NCAA Division III Championship.

As a team, Fisher grabbed 33 total ground balls, while Joe Post finished 12 of 30 inside the face off circle. Cole Fowler led the Cardinals defensively with three caused turnovers and Zach Wagner would add two assists to cap off his senior season.