ERIE, Pa.- While the Mercyhurst men's lacrosse team had one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2013, there is no doubt it was the most dramatic in Laker lore. Mercyhurst went 18-1, advancing all the way to the NCAA Championship in Philadelphia.

For phots from the trip to the NCAA Championship, please click here.
 
Coach Chris Ryan's squad posted a second consecutive undefeated regular season, joining the 2012 edition as the lone teams to go unbeaten in a regular season for any sport in school history. The Lakers set a school record with six one-goal wins, including two overtime victories in the NCAA Tournament. They won the inaugural Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) regular season and tournament championships. Mercyhurst won its most games in a single season and defeated six teams ranked in the top 12 of the final United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) poll.
 
Throughout the season, the Lakers pulled out close victories late in games. They saved their most thrilling finish for the final home match of the season. In one of the wildest games in NCAA Tournament history, Mercyhurst beat then-second-ranked Limestone, 18-17, in overtime on May 18.
 
Zac Reid scored a career-high seven goals, tying the record for most goals in a semifinal contest. His final goal made it 17-16 Limestone with 58 seconds to play in the fourth period. After the Saints won the ensuing faceoff, the Lakers forced them into a timeout with 17 seconds remaining. Coming out of the stoppage, Andrew Wagner and Patrick Maloney forced a turnover in the right corner. Maloney retrieved the ball and threw ahead to Ryan Sullivan near midfield. Sullivan quickly pitched to James Chayka, who sprinted in and scored on the right side with 4.1 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. After Michael Grace made a save on Limestone's first possession, Deven Alves found the back of the net with 2:56 showing on the clock, lifting the Lakers to their third-ever NCAA Championship appearance.
 
The match featured a number of notable accomplishments. It was the highest-scoring NCAA Division II Tournament game since 1980 and saw the second-most combined goals in school history. Of the eight overtime games in NCAA Division II Tournament annals, Mercyhurst has played in three-all in the last two seasons.
 
The week before, Mercyhurst found itself trailing, 9-7, in the fourth quarter against Lake Erie College in an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal. Goals by Jake McAndrew and Cory Becker tied the game and eventually, the teams headed into extra time. With 1:47 to go, Brian Scheetz hit Brady Heseltine cutting to the net. Heseltine redirected the ball into the goal, allowing the Lakers to advance to the semifinals.
 
Mercyhurst, who started the season tied with Dowling atop the USILA national poll, began the 2013 campaign in North Carolina, beating Queens and Pfeiffer. In a 9-8 win at Pfeiffer March 2, Grace had to make a save as time expired to preserve the victory. The team likely did not realize that the match would be like so many others on the schedule.
 
After handling then-#12 St. Michael's and Dominican (Calif.) at home, the Lakers hit the road, recording wins at Lindenwood (Mo.) and Ohio Valley. Mercyhurst rolled to home wins over Walsh and Wheeling Jesuit, setting up a date with 2012 NCAA Champion Dowling on April 6.
 
The Lakers fell behind, 4-0, 7-4, and 10-8, as Dowling, ranked ninth at the time, controlled the day. However, Chayka had other plans. The senior erupted with four fourth-quarter goals, including the game-winner with 12.4 seconds left. He finished the day with a career-high five goals, becoming the first Laker since Cameron McLean in 2009 to score four times in one frame.
 
Mercyhurst followed with a 19-5 beatdown of Alderson-Broaddus the next day, celebrating senior day in style. While the team had wrapped a perfect home schedule, there was still plenty of work left to do prior to the postseason.
 
On April 13, Ryan took his squad to then-#5 LIU-Post for Long Island showdown. After taking an early lead, the Lakers fell behind again, with the Pioneers going ahead, 13-10, with 10:43 to go in the fourth quarter. The top four goal-scorers led Mercyhurst back, though, as Chayka, Heseltine, and McAndrew each scored to even the score with 3:20 remaining. Scheetz then assisted on a Reid man-up goal with 1:51 showing on the clock, giving the Lakers yet another one-goal escape.
 
Next on the schedule was a trip to Lake Erie on April 16. In a match that had eight ties, neither team could separate until the fourth period, when Reid scored twice, with his second goal making it 13-10 with 6:03 left. The Storm were not done, however, as they scored two times down the stretch and then forced Mercyhurst to cough up possession in the final minute. With five seconds to go, LEC called timeout to draw up a final attack. Grace stopped a straight-on shot from Reagan Harding, but the ball popped loose to ECAC Offensive Player of the Year Keegan Bal. Bal redirected a shot toward the goal, but Grace was able to get a piece of the ball as time ran out.
 
Mercyhurst then won, 10-5, at Roberts Wesleyan, setting up the regular season finale at then-#6 Seton Hill on April 27. The winner would take the ECAC regular season title and earn hosting rights for the ECAC Tournament the following weekend. The Lakers played a strong game, scoring six times in the second quarter and eventually taking a 12-9 decision. The victory gave Mercyhurst a second consecutive unbeaten regular season, secured home-field advantage for the conference playoffs, and marked Ryan's 150^th career win.
 
On May 3, the Lakers played one of their best defensive contests of the season, dismantling Wheeling Jesuit, 14-3. Lake Erie followed with an upset of Seton Hill in the other semifinal, setting up a second date between LEC and Mercyhurst. The Lakers won, 13-7, as McAndrew earned ECAC Tournament MVP honors. The junior scored seven goals in the two victories, leading Mercyhurst to the inaugural ECAC Tournament Championship. Later that day, the Lakers received the top seed in the NCAA South Region, earning home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the newly-expanded NCAA Tournament. They defended Tullio Field with OT wins against Lake Erie and Limestone.
 
Mercyhurst then traveled to Philadelphia for the NCAA Championship May 26, facing Le Moyne in front of 22,511 fans. The Dolphins led, 5-2, in the second quarter before the Lakers rallied to tie the match at five entering halftime. Le Moyne then scored six straight goals to take an 11-5 advantage early in the fourth period. The Lakers would not quit, though, as they fought back with five goals in a row. In the frantic final minutes, Mercyhurst hit the post twice in search of the tying goal. The Dolphins held on for their first NCAA Championship since 2007.
 
Wagner led the individual honors, winning his second straight William C. Schmeisser Award as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in Division II. He was also named USILA First Team All-American and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. Scheetz earned USILA Second Team All-American honors, along with All-ECAC First Team recognition. Reid was an Honorable Mention All-American and an All-ECAC First Team pick. Scheetz and Reid were each selected USILA Scholar All-Americans following the season-two of just six Division II student-athletes on the list. Mitch McAvoy was the ECAC Specialist of the Year, while Ryan Sullivan was All-ECAC First Team. Chayka, Maloney, and Grace were All-ECAC Second Team choices. Trevor Vargo won the NCAA Elite 89 Award for having the highest grade point average among student-athletes at the championship site.
 
Scheetz finished with a career-high 73 points, including 46 assists. He graduates as one of the top players in school history and holds the program's career points record with 234-79 more than any other Laker. Heseltine led with 42 goals in 2013 and now has 78 in three seasons. Another 42-goal season in 2014 will make Heseltine the school's all-time leader in goals.
 
McAndrew was next with 40 goals, while Reid and Chayka paced the midfield. Reid recorded 29 goals and 14 assists and Chayka totaled 28 goals and 16 helpers. Alves posted 29 points, including 16 assists-tied for second on the team. Grace made all 19 starts in goal, compiling an 8.28 goals against average and a .534 save percentage. He is 31-2 in his two years as the Lakers' goalie. Wagner and Maloney formed a strong 1-2 defensively, while Ryan Sullivan stepped in to replace Gregory Bensman as the long stick midfielder. Wagner slowed the opposition's top scorer, as Maloney and Sullivan tied for the team lead with 23 caused turnovers. McAvoy won 58 percent of his faceoffs and paced the squad with 97 ground balls.
 
Ryan will say goodbye to Scheetz, Reid, Chayka, Peter Plaskey, Kyle Lindsay, Mark Saltrelli, Brent Rotz, Walter Rodenhouse, and Dan Cuddy. The group compiled a 58-5 career record. The Class of 2014 will feature many key players, as Wagner, Maloney, Grace, Heseltine, McAndrew, Sullivan, McAvoy, Alves, Brandon Thomson, Ian Brooks, E.J. Sellie, Kyle Stanney will be among those playing their final season at Tullio Field.
 
In 2014, the Lakers will open the season with a 31-game regular season winning streak and an 18-game home regular season winning stretch. They have also won their last 20 conference outings.