The historic season for the Nipissing Lakers lacrosse team came to an end Saturday on the road, in the first round of the CUFLA playoffs.

After qualifying for the post-season for the first time in history and coming extremely close to hosting a playoff game, the Lakers fell short to the nationally ranked Trent Excalibur 17-11 in Peterborough.

A slow start came back to bite the Lakers, as they found themselves down 8-3 after the first quarter, before cutting the deficit by halftime.

In the second quarter, they fought back, but still trailed 10-6 at the break.

In the second half, it was a similar story, with Trent coming out quick and scoring the first three goals of the third quarter, before Nipissing responded with three straight of their own.

Trent still managed to extend their lead and finished three quarters, ahead 15-9.

The teams each found the back of the net twice in the final quarter, but it was too little and too late for the Lakers at that point.

Trent grabbed the win and will advance, while the Lakers can proudly look back at their best season ever, in terms of advancing.

Alex DeGagne led the attack with three goals and an assist, while Scott Dominey had two goals and two assists, Doug Utting had a hat-trick and Nick Chaykowsky had three points as well.

Daniel Miziolek and Bryan Kells had the other Nipissing goals.

Nipissing will now regroup and look ahead to the 2017 CUFLA season.