JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – John Alie broke Christian Della Rocco's conference and school record for goals in a season and Nolan Hudnut broke Dillon Ward's program record for saves in a season, but the Knights' 2025 campaign came to a close with an 18-11 loss to Utah in the ASUN Championship semifinals Friday afternoon at Rock Stadium.
 
The defeat for the fourth-seeded Knights was their third in four seasons at the hands of top-seeded Utah in the ASUN semifinals. (The outlier was last year when the Knights fell to Cleveland State in the quarterfinals.)
 
Bellarmine (8-9) led 8-7 at halftime, but Utah (6-8) used a backbreaking 7-1 third quarter to advance to Sunday's finals against the winner of Friday's second game at Rock Stadium, second-seeded Jacksonville versus third-seeded Air Force.
 
"We played our tails off and just didn't have enough gas in the second half," said Bellarmine head coach Andrew Whitley. "I believe there are five inflection point plays which decide a lacrosse game and they are often little things. A tough ground ball, a critical clear, a tough catch in transition. Unfortunately, they all seemed to go Utah's way."
 
The loss dropped Bellarmine to 0-10 all-time against Utah. The Utes outshot the Knights 50-29 and also converted 5 of 8 extra-man opportunities while the Knights were unable to convert either of their two extra-man opportunities. Utah also committed three fewer turnovers.
 
Though Bellarmine's hopes to play in their first conference title game were dashed, the individual accomplishments remained praiseworthy.
 
Alie scored four times, all in the first half, to give him 52 goals for his junior season, passing Della Rocco's program and conference record of 50 in 2023. (While Alie's 52 scores stands as the ASUN record, Air Force's Caelan Driggs, currently at 45 goals, has a chance to pass him.) Additionally, his second goal of the day was also the 100^th of his career, making him the fourth Knight to reach that plateau, joining Kyle Playsted, Benny O'Rourk and Della Rocco. Alie will enter the 2026 season with 102 career goals, 11 shy of Playsted's program record of 113.
 
"John Alie has been a terrific goal scorer all season and had a tremendous game this afternoon shooting the ball," Whitley said.
 
Hudnut made 12 saves on the afternoon to give him 212 in his freshman season, passing Ward's 208 as a senior in 2013. He finished his campaign having made double-digit saves in 14 of 17 games.
 
Alie got things started quickly, scoring the first goal of the game less than three minutes in. His second of the day, also his 50^th of the season to match Della Rocco and 100^th of his career, came with 2:41 remaining in the first, but the Knights trailed the Utes 4-2 after one.
 
The Knights battled back to even the game at 4-4 early in the second quarter after back-to-back goals by freshman attacks Ezra Moore and Ty Washington.
 
After a Luke McNamara goal for the Utes, Alie would score his third goal of the day to pass Della Rocco and then add his fourth 48 seconds later to put the Knights up 6-5. Alie's third and fourth scores each came from behind-the-back shots.
 
Bellarmine outscored the Utes 6-3 in the second quarter to carry an 8-7 lead into halftime. The Knights were aided greatly by a 12-for-14 performance by Cole Messick on faceoffs in the first half.
 
"Cole Messick battled all game at the faceoff X and dominated the first half. He gave us plenty of chances on offense, especially in the first half," Whitley said.
 
After the teams traded goals to start the third quarter, the Utes rattled off six straight scores, including three by McNamara, to carry a 14-9 lead into the fourth. Utah won 7 of 9 faceoffs and picked up 11 ground balls to the Knights' six in the frame while carrying a 14-9 lead into the fourth.
 
"We had our chances and unfortunately untimely turnovers in critical spots were our Achilles heel this afternoon," Whitley said. "We just could not seem to stretch our lead in the second and third and then the game got away from us because of those inflection point plays."
 
In the final quarter, the Knights got scores from Joe Alie and Brady Long, but Utah added four more, including McNamara's seventh of the day, to bring the game to its 18-11 final.
 
The goal for Long, a senior defenseman, was his first of the season and the fourth of his career.
 
The younger Alie finished his freshman season with 29 goals, one shy of matching Riley Seay's freshman program record 30, set in 2019.
 
The Knights also received single scores from John Imperato, Justin Wescoat and Michael Blaymires.
 
On defense, Jackson Campisano five ground balls to match his career high.
 
"I'm proud of this group and they've continued to raise the bar of expectations surrounding this program," Whitley said. "This is a disappointing ending to a good foundation-building season."
 
While McNamara had seven goals for Utah, Ryan Stines, forever a thorn in the Knights' collective sides, handed out seven assists and also added a goal for a game-high eight points.
 
The Knights' graduating seniors leave the program as the winningest class in school history with 32. Despite falling short of win number 33, Whitley remains high on his departing players.
 
"This senior class will go down as one of the finest in the history of the program," Whitley concluded. "The story of Bellarmine lacrosse will not be able to be told without their names and accomplishments being mentioned. It is a legacy class that should be proud of their accomplishments. They have raised the standard of the program."
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow the Knights on X, Instagram and Facebook.