KENOSHA, Wis. – After trailing for 48 minutes and falling behind by as much as five in the second half, the Elmhurst men's lacrosse team fought back to tie the score at 10. But a Carthage goal with 12 seconds left ended the Bluejays' season in heartbreaking fashion.
 
Trailing 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter, Mac Harden's third of the game came early in the period and put Elmhurst within two. With just over six minutes to go in the game, Mal Euson pulled Elmhurst within one for the first time since 3-2 by scoring from the right wing off an assist from Tyler Dailey.
 
The Bluejays won the ensuing face-off and had two good looks at a game-tying goal, but Carthage's Ryan Smith saved both. After a Red Men penalty, Matt Westhaver leveled the game by scoring from the near right wing.
 
The tie almost didn't last more than 15 seconds as Carthage found a great opportunity right in front of Nick Bonastia, but the Elmhurst goalkeeper made a tough save. With 2:12 on the clock, Elmhurst called timeout looking to draw up the play that could put them in front. But, after Carthage regained possession, Thomas twisted past a defender in the final seconds and scored to send the Red Men to the CCIW Championship game.
 
A Carthage own goal put the Bluejays up 1-0 early, but the Red Men bounced back to score the final three goals of the period and led 3-1 after 15 minutes.
 
Harden quickly put Elmhurst within one by scoring from the near right wing. Once again, Carthage used a 3-0 run, this time extending a four-goal lead. Dailey stopped the bleeding by spinning and firing home his 15th of the season from the top of the circle.
 
After Bonastia made a tough save in the final minute, Carthage turned the ball over with 14 seconds to go. Dan Curley took advantage of a quick restart to get a head of steam and, with five seconds remaining in the half, fired up the Bluejay bench by scoring from a tough angle on the right side.
 
Carthage led in most statistical categories after 30 minutes, including shots (21-14), ground balls (17-11), face-offs (8-4), and turnovers (11-8), but nine saves from Bonastia kept the Bluejays close.
 
The Red Men jumped all over the Bluejays to begin the second half, scoring the first three to again reach its largest lead at 9-4. Dailey once again stopped a Carthage run by scoring from the left wing and then David Fracassa won the ensuing face-off and fired home his first of the game. In the blink of an eye Elmhurst was back within three.

Late in the quarter, Harden took advantage of a defensive miscue and used his quickness to net his second of the game before help could arrive. Carthage's Tanner Thomas' third goal of the game came with just 11 seconds left in the quarter and extended the Red Men lead to 10-7.

After Elmhurst tied the game with three unanswered goals, Thomas sent Carthage home happy. 
 
Harden led the Bluejays offensively with a hat trick, while Dailey added two goals and an assist. Nick Bonastia made 13 saves in net.
 
The teams were practically level in shots (34-33 Carthage edge), but the Red Men held a slight advantage in ground balls (34-26), face-offs (16-9), and turnovers (19-14).
 
Luke Seydel and Jared Ferrell added two goals and an assist to help Thomas on the Carthage offense. Ryan Smith stopped 10 shots for the Red Men.
 
The Bluejays finish the 2016 season 6-11 and 2-3 in the CCIW. Including the CCIW Tournament, their four losses to CCIW opponents came by a total of nine goals.