Lourdes quest for a Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association title fell just short on Saturday as the Gray Wolves fell 15-10 to Dayton in the championship game held at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
"The guys fought hard today to finish out the CCLA playoffs," head coach Patrick Yannarelli said.  "Competing for the championship was a goal of theirs and the focus over the weekend was positive.  We are pleased with the effort of all the guys.  The leaders on the team have done a great job so far this year and their excitement is palpable."
 
Lourdes never led in the contest, but kept the game close throughout.  The Flyers led 3-1 when Dalton Vowles (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) scored with the man advantage late in the opening quarter to pull the Gray Wolves within a goal after one.
 
Dayton built a three-goal lead late in the first half before Vowles again found the back of the cage, pulling Lourdes to within 6-4 at intermission.  The Flyers extended the lead to four, 10-6, before Lourdes made a late run to end the third period, pulling to within two, 11-9, on Vowles fourth and final goal of the game with 40 seconds left in the quarter.
 
Danny Bichsel (Westerville, Ohio/North H.S.), the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player, scored with 8:50 to play to make it a 12-10 game, but Lourdes was unable to find the back of the cage the rest of the way.  Dayton added three late tallies for the game's final outcome.
 
Bichsel scored three times in the game while Jared Yoshino (Toledo, Ohio/Southview H.S.), Casey Hilfinger (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.), and Dylan Gill (Holland, Ohio/Saint Francis H.S.) each added a tally.
 
Conner Mishler (Lambertville, Mich./Saint John's H.S.) made 16 saves for the Gray Wolves while Hilfinger collected a team-high six groundballs and John McInturf (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy H.S.) had five more.
 
Ryan Green led Dayton (13-2) with four goals on the day while Ryan Cass found the back of the cage three times.
 
Lourdes (14-3) will head to Greenville, S.C. on Thursday evening for the first round of the NAIA National Invitational.  The Gray Wolves will face Missouri Baptist with the opening faceoff set for 7 p.m.