Bel Air, MD - For the first time in program history, the Harford Fighting Owls are the 2023 NJCAA Men's Lacrosse National Champions! 

The final game of the year pitted #1 Harford against the #2 seeded, two-time reigning champions Nassau. The Lions had their eyes set on their program's 24th National Title, while Harford hoped to claim its first ever. This was also the first time that the National Championship Tournament was held at Harford Community College. The Fighting Owls entered the weekend with a perfect regular season record, and walked off their home field on Sunday unmatched and undefeated.

The contest started as a back and forth between the teams. Nassau drew first blood three minutes into the contest off an unassisted goal by Kamryn Gill. He would tally two more goals before the end of the contest. Trevor Sousa would respond with a goal of his own less than a minute later to bring the game back to even. A tripping penalty against the Lions would give the Fighting Owls their first man-up opportunity of the game and allow Sousa to pick out Carter Korzenski and go up 2-1. Nassau would bring the game back to even less than a minute later off a combination from Anthony Matalone and Brian Pohoreckyj. The Fighting Owls rounded out the first period with goals from Dylan Tomarchio and Jackson Marindin to take a 4-2 lead. 

The second period was more of the same back and forth battle for control. Nassau struck first again two minutes into the period. Four minutes later another penalty would put the Fighting Owls man-up, and Cayden Collins would capitalize off an assist from Jack Mulligan. The game would open up in the third period for Harford after Trevor Sousa converted the first goal of the second half to go up 6-3. Nassau would respond off an unassisted goal by Kyle O'Donoghue, but the Fighting Owls would string together four unanswered goals over the next 7 minutes. Dylan Tomarchio would take credit for two of those strikes, and land another just before the end of the third with Harford now up 11-6. 

It would be Tomarchio again to get the Fighting Owls on the scoreboard at the start of the final period, with Nassau needing to double their scoreline to have any chance at a national title. That chance never came. The impenetrable Harford defense lead by Alex Epple would not have it. Epple would log 7 saves on the day, with four coming in the fourth period. At the face off x the Fighting Owls managed to win 12 of 25 matchups from Shaki Bowen (7-16) and Mark Durling (5-9). Steve Mancha and Ethan Storey combined for 7 caused turnovers on the game, while the Harford defense went 22-24 on clears (92%). As a team, the Fighting Owls logged just one minute of penalty time in the entire contest. Harford would go on to become national champions by a score of 13-8, and by way of their offensive prowess, defensive composure, and all around team mentality.

The All Tournament team consisted of six Harford athletes including Xan Hayes, Cayden Collins, Trevor Sousa, and Jack Mulligan. Dylan Tomarchio would be named the Offensive MVP, and Alex Epple the Defensive MVP. Head Coach Aaron Verardi was named the Coach of the Tournament.

The stars aligned for Harford this season as the program was given the opportunity to etch themselves in history on their home field, but their success did not come by chance. At the beginning of the season the team centered its focus on the Greek concept of Arete. Arete means "excellence" of any kind. In its original context, this notion of "excellence" is inextricably linked with an individuals' fulfillment of purpose. Arete is the act of living to one's full potential. The Fighting Owls lacrosse program centered on creativity, service, and competition and was driven by this desire to reach its fullest potential on and off the field. Coach Verardi and the rest of the Harford coaching staff created a culture that transcended lacrosse this season, and gave their athletes the opportunity to build lifelong memories that would tie them to each other forever as a parliament, and a family of champions.