ALBANY, N.Y. – The fourth-seeded University of Hartford men's lacrosse team ran through the 2016 America East Championship and captured the program's second tournament title in six seasons on Saturday after holding on for a 17-16 victory over third-seeded Vermont at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium Saturday. Improving to 11-6 overall, the Hawks earned the league's automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament with the victory. The Catamounts finish the season 9-8 overall after making their first postseason appearance.

Alec Brown, Griffin Feiner, Justin Huggins and Dylan Protesto were named to the America East All-Championship Team for the Hawks, who reached their third title game after upending No. 4 UAlbany, 11-10, in overtime on Thursday. Protesto was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Player after dominating the faceoff X with a 72.2 percent winning percentage (39-for-54) over the two games. He added a goal with 9:55 left in the game to give the Hawks a 16-12 cushion at the time.

Four players netted hat tricks to lead Hartford's balanced attack, which matched a season-high in scoring. Freshman Dylan Jinks and sophomore Trevor O'Brien joined Brown and Huggins with three goals apiece, while junior Jaedon Henderson handed out a career-best five assists in the win. The defense was also solid for Hartford, as sophomore Ryan Vanderford registered a season-high 15 saves between the pipes, including a plethora of game-changing stops. 

Early struggles in the game allowed Vermont to take a 7-4 lead behind seven different goal scorers at the end of the first quarter. That Catamounts' advantage quickly extended to four goals early in the second, with Cam Milligan making it an 8-4 game just 77 seconds in.

But things started to click for Hartford, as the squad chipped away at its deficit and took its first lead of the game before the end of the half. The turning point proved to be a 6-0 run, fueled by a dominant stretch from Protesto in the circle and a pair of goals from Brown, that gave Hartford a 10-8 edge at halftime.

Brown found his way to the net with 12:26 left in the second to ignite that pivotal half-ending run, before Huggins brought the deficit down to two at 8-6 with his second goal of the game four minutes later. The offense continued to roll, and with 6:16 left, the Hawks pulled within one after redshirt-senior defender Torrey Martone came away with a pivotal ground ball that led to a transition goal from O'Brien.

A goal from Jinks with 4:51 to go drew the teams even at 8-8 before junior Doug Biondi put Hartford on top for the first time in the game with a man-up score 64 seconds later. Brown, who started the game-changing run, capped the offensive outburst and made it a 10-8 Hawks' lead 2:10 before the break.

Despite spotting the Catamounts a quick goal from Milligan 18 seconds into the third, the Hawks continued to rally. Jinks, Brown and Feiner went off for three more unanswered scores to give Hartford its largest lead of the game at 13-9 with 2:34 left in the third. Hartford extended its lead to four goals twice in the second half, with Feiner's second goal of the game - and 30th of the season - making it a 17-13 advantage with 8:21 remaining to play.

The Hawks would maintain their edge, but Vermont refused to quit in the final quarter. The Catamounts scored four of the game's final five goals, using markers from Milligan, James Barlow and Nick Barlett to cut the deficit to one goal at 17-16 with 50.2 seconds remaining. But Hartford was awarded an man-up opportunity with 26.2 seconds left, and the Hawks milked the clock by playing keep-away to hold on for the win.

The Hawks' 11 wins mark the most since the 2011 campaign, when the team went 11-7 en route to the program's first America East Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. 

Hartford learns its destiny in the upcoming national tournament on Sunday night during the NCAA Selection Show, which will begin at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. Stay connected to Hartford Athletics on Twitter (@HartfordHawks), as details for Selection Show Watch Party will be released.