Firebirds Lose Season Finale 12-5 vs. No. 7 NYIT; Finish Season with Program Record for Overall Wins 

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's lacrosse team valiantly matched No .7 in the nation and East Coast Conference foe New York Institute of Technology in a 12-5, defeat on Saturday afternoon that saw the Firebirds honor three talented seniors: Teilen Celentano, Zach Hart, and LaRon Hinton at UDC Sports Complex. 

The Firebirds end the season with a program overall record of eight wins and seven defeats and in conference play ended 1-5. Junior Syrrus Nash scored a game-high four goals, along with senior LaRon Hinton on his last career game as a Firebird with two assists. He ended his college career with 86 goals, 42 assists, the UDC record for most points with 128. 

Teilen Celentano enjoyed his last afternoon as a UDC student-athlete in face-offs as he went 13-21 and ends his Firebird career with 722 face-off wins to go down as 2nd in all NCAA Division II active career leaders . Also, taking a total of 10 ground balls he is 3rd in all NCAA Division II active career leaders for ground balls with 348. 

Goalkeeper Nikolas Lund-Murray made 14 saves off 26 shots to help keep the Firebirds hanging in the game. He ends the season leading the ECC in saves with 189. 

UDC was involved in a tight knit contest with the home side keeping the Bears caged as they struck back on two occasions in the 1st quarter through Nash. 

NYIT was strong in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, with the third ending 11-5. In the final quarter, with tight defense, the Firebirds could find no way of scoring past the Bears and the game finished 12-5. 

The Firebirds had 14 saves to NYIT's 10 and also won the battle of ground balls with 23 to the visitors 20, and had 17 turnovers to the Bears eight. 

Head Coach Rodger Colbert will return 12 of his 15 student-athletes for the 2019 campaign.