SALISBURY, Md. - Stevenson men's lacrosse seniors Justin Lea (Elkridge, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) and Nick Rossi (Lutherville, Md./Towson) each scored three points, but No. 1 Salisbury scored the first three goals of the third quarter to hold off the No. 4 Mustangs en route to its second-straight CAC championship Saturday at Sea Gull Stadium, 12-9.

The loss came in the fourth and final CAC title game appearance for Stevenson (14-4) who is moving to the Middle Atlantic Conference next season.

Meanwhile, Salisbury (18-0) won its 17th CAC championship in 18 years in the conference. The team's only loss came against the Mustangs at home in 2010.

After a 4-0 run by Stevenson over the final 8:54 of the second quarter pulled the team within one at the half, the Sea Gulls scored the first three goals of the second half to take a 10-6 advantage with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter following a man-up goal by Sam Bradman.

Bradman scored Salisbury's final three goals of the game to keep the Sea Gulls at least two goals ahead of the Mustangs while the defense held Stevenson to just three second-half goals on 12 shots.

Alex Taylor finished with seven saves for the Sea Gulls, including three in the third quarter.

Back-to-back goals by Lea and sophomore J.P. Coombe (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead midway through the first quarter before Salisbury scored the next six-straight to take its largest lead of the game at 7-2 with 10:12 to play in the second quarter.

Lea and Rossi combined to score three of Stevenson's final four goals of the first half as they trailed by just one at the break.

Lea finished with three goals while Rossi had two goals and one assist. Junior Tyler Reid (Clinton, Conn./Xavier) also totaled three points with two goals and one assist.

Senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) was credited with four saves. Junior Kyle Holechek (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) had four caused turnovers while junior Parker Bratton (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) had three to go along with five ground balls.

Senior Doug Reidt (Towson, Md./Hereford) won 10 face-offs and had seven ground balls, but Salisbury's Tyler Granelli won 15 face-offs, including 3-of-4 in the fourth quarter to help limit the Mustangs to just one goal on five shots after they trailed by just two going into the final period.

Stevenson, who awaits selections for the 2012 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship on Sunday, May 6, travels to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, May 5 for a 4:00 p.m., contest with the Battling Bishops.