Championship Central (follow this link throughout the week for updated results, bracket, schedule ...)

KINGS POINT, N.Y. I The No. 2-seed U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's lacrosse team defeated their rival and No. 3-seed Maritime Privateers at home on Tuesday night in the Skyline Semifinals by the final of 18-8 to secure a berth in the Skyline title game on Friday night. The Mariners improve to 10-5 while Maritime finishes their season 8-8.
 
Sophomore Owen Behr (above) recorded a career-high nine points after scoring three times and adding six assists. Junior Owen Barcus tallied five goals and an assist, senior Michael Emerick had a four-goal evening and sophomore goalie Julian Garcia made nine saves in the victory.
 
Freshman Tucker Kuhn was stellar from the face-off X, winning 18-of-22 draw, as he led all players with eight groundballs. Fellow plebe William Schipfer led all players on the night with three caused turnovers and also picked up three GBs.
 
Two goals from freshman Landon Locke and one from Behr within the first three minutes helped Merchant Marine start off strong with a 3-0 edge.
 
Behr and Barcus each scored again later on in the first quarter, before Maritime was able to hit back themselves, but Kings Point largely controlled the opening frame and went to the intermission up 5-1.
 
The Privateers scored early in the second period to trim their deficit to 5-2, but USMMA quickly scored three goals of their own in under two minutes to reestablish an 8-2 cushion. Each side scored once more before halftime, as the Mariners maintained a six-goal edge after two quarters.
 
After the break, SUNY Maritime got on the board quickly to try and ignite a comeback from down 9-4. However, Merchant Marine quickly put those dreams to bed. A goal from Barcus shortly after ignited a four-goal spurt from the Mariners, rapidly extending their lead to 13-4 in the third quarter.
 
Maritime did score twice before the end of the frame, but the Privateers headed into the fourth down by seven goals.
 
USMMA could have elected to play a more defensive style in the fourth, but kept the pressure on the Privateers. Merchant Marine outscored Maritime 4-1 in the final frame, helping secure the 18-8 victory.
 
Merchant Marine will play for a Skyline crown against top-seeded Farmingdale State on Friday (May 2) at FSC's Rams' Field at 7 p.m.  

-Courtesy of USMMA Sports Information