CHESAPEAKE, Va.-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore's young team played as hard as they could on Saturday at the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, but in the end they came up a match short of the television finals and what could have been their fourth straight conference title.

"Obviously the outcome wasn't what we wanted it to be this weekend," said head coach Kayla Bandy. "But after taking some time to reflect on it, this will serve as great preparation for the post-season play yet to come."

The team's inability to capitalize on their opponents' mistakes reared its ugly head early on in the day as the Hawks fell in the opening match to a dialed in Morgan State squad. The seventh-seeded Bears always seemed to leave makeable spares, and finished them off frequently, as they upset the second-seed from Princess Anne four games to two (157-168, 223-171, 209-210, 174-178, 238-166, 188-208). That win included a one-pin win in the third game followed by a four pin win in game five.

On the lanes next to them the sixth-seeded Spartans of Norfolk State (NSU) upset the third-seeded Aggies of North Carolina A&T (NCAT) and set up an unexpected match-up between the conference's two top nationally-ranked teams.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead (177-158, 221-165) and looked set to eliminate the Aggies in quick order. NCAT didn't go away quietly, taking a 223-171 win in game three before the Hawks rolled to a 232-214 game four win and led 3-1. Still the Aggies didn't go away. They would take the next two games 199-188 and 191-185 to even the match at three all. Eastern Shore locked in for the final game, choosing the right lane, the one they had just lost on, but MEAC Coach of the Year Bandy knew what she was doing as the Hawks won 214-198, starting with five straight strikes and eliminated their North Carolina rival.

Up next was the same Morgan State squad that sent the Hawks into the bottom bracket, Morgan State. Maryland Eastern Shore pounded the Bears for three straight games (209-152, 184-177, 175-160) before Morgan got a game four win with a 202-185 score. The Hawks quickly eliminated the Bears in game five 169-143.

Next up, undefeated Norfolk State. The Spartans were the reason the Hawks had the second-seed, handing them their only loss in qualifying. While the Spartans were looking for more of the same the Hawks had something else in mind. In a win or go home match, Eastern Shore jumped on NSU 192-189 in game one and squeaked out a game two win 191-190 as MEAC Bowler of the Year Thashaina Seraus (Oranjestad, Aruba) struck and spared in the tenth to seal the win. Eastern Shore was on a roll. Jalesa Johnson (Delmar, Del.), Melanie Copey (Ontario, N.Y.), Seraus and lead-off bowler Jacqueline Rhoda (Portage, Ind.) combined for four straight strikes in the third through sixth frames and helped the Hawks to a 219-162 game three win.

Then the wheels fell off.

Game four went to the Spartans in an ugly game as they won 160-158. Game five went to the Green and Gold again as Seraus missed a seven-pin the tenth that could have set up a win, instead NSU closed the match to 3-2 with the 201-194 win.

Game six sent the NSU home crowd into a frenzy as they won 178-170 and tied the match at three apiece.

Game seven saw the Hawks deflate the home crowd with a 211-179 win and take the match 4-3. Next up, Norfolk State, again.

While the Hawk faithful was hoping the previous defeat shook the Spartans, they weren't phased, posting a 225-182 game one win and a 231-169 game two victory to go up 2-0.

Game three was all Eastern Shore as they dominated NSU 212-159.

Seraus had seen enough of the Spartans ability to carry pins in game four. She closed with a pair of strikes in the tenth that sealed the 186-170 win and tied the match at two apiece. The Hawks couldn't strike in game five, falling 169-146 and again didn't capitalize on the Spartan mistakes. Game six sealed the Hawk's fate, a 189-174 loss, sending NSU to the finals on Sunday to face Delaware State.

Through all 13 games Norfolk State often left the Hawks a chance with open frames, but instead of marking, Maryland Eastern Shore often opened themselves, 11 times they did it in the final match. When NSU struck, often by crashing through the head pin and getting good carry, the Hawks seemed to spare.

Perhaps the result of such a young team that contains no one bowling collegiately in more than their second year.

"For the most part this is the first 'championship' type play for the majority of the team," said Bandy. "Now they know what it is all about. They know it doesn't matter who is on the pair of lanes with you, competing against you, you have to limit your mistakes and execute shots. I could place blame on a hundred different situations but most importantly we have to do our part to take care of business. When you do your part, winning takes care of itself."

While the young team may be a reason for the earlier than expected exit, Bandy was happy with many of the performances over the weekend. "I was super impressed with Melanie [Copey] and Thashaina's [Seraus] performances the entire weekend. They are our most experienced bowlers and they led this team. In several matches Jalesa [Johnson] and Jackie [Rhoda] stepped up to make shots a lot of seniors couldn't make. This team is special and they are the beginning of something really great to come in this process."

The Hawks know for sure they will bowl again in the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Whichita Kansas in mid-April. They hope to earn a berth in the NCAA Championships as well, a fate they will find out next week.