The NYIT men's lacrosse team will control its own destiny on the final day of the regular season. The Bears defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 13-8, on Tuesday at President's Stadium and will have a chance to qualify for the four-team East Coast Conference championships on Saturday in Rochester. If Molloy defeats District of Columbia on Saturday, NYIT will need to beat Roberts Wesleyan by three or more goals to win a tiebreaker based on goal differential. In that scenario, the Bears would be the No. 3 seed and face No. 2 LIU Post in the ECC semifinals. If Molloy loses to UDC, NYIT merely needs to beat Roberts Wesleyan by any margin to qualify. Regardless, NYIT can only be the No. 3 seed and face LIU Post if the Bears earn a postseason berth. And a loss on Saturday and NYIT is eliminated. Against St. Thomas Aquinas, Matt Murphy scored the game's opening three goals and NYIT grabbed a 4-0 lead with 1 minute, 39 seconds to go in the first quarter on a goal from Michael Trainor. The Bears eventually built a 9-2 lead on Jason Sullivan's goal less than a minute into the third quarter. But the Spartans answered with five consecutive goals to threaten the outcome. Lenny Innamorato then scored back-to-back goals late in the third quarter to restore breathing room and NYIT held on for the victory. Innamorato led NYIT with five goals, while Murphy had four. The Bears improved to 4-12 overall and 2-3 in the ECC entering Saturday's regular-season finale in Rochester. Mercy has locked up the No. 1 seed and LIU Post has the No. 2 seed. Roberts Wesleyan already has clinched as well, but its seed depends on Saturday's results. NYIT or Molloy will round out the four-team field. Wins by Molloy on Saturday against UDC and NYIT against Roberts Wesleyan would force a three-way tie for third place at 3-3. NYIT gets the tiebreaker over Molloy based on goal differential if it defeats the Redhawks by three or more goals. NYIT plays Roberts Wesleyan at noon, while Molloy faces UDC at 3 p.m. in Rockville Centre.