Box Score
MEDFORD - Five players scored three or more goals, led by four from sophomore Chris Schoenhut (Mill Neck, NY), as the #9 Tufts men's lacrosse team posted a 20-14 victory over #15 Western New England on Sunday afternoon at Bello Field.
The Jumbos reached 20 goals for the first time since a 23-5 win against Lasell on March 15, 2011. In addition to Schoenhut's four, junior Beau Wood (Sherwood Forest, MD), junior Dan Leventhal (Chappaqua, NY), senior captain Andrew Fiamengo (New Fairfield, CT), and junior Peter Bowers (Contestoga, PA) all scored three goals for Tufts.
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Jumbos (4-2), including three against non-conference teams ranked in the national top 15. The Golden Bears, who were led by three goals and two assists from senior James Reardon (Longmeadow, MA), dropped to 3-3 overall.
The game was tied 8-8 late in the second quarter when Tufts ran off seven in a row to go up 15-8 in the middle of the third. Schoenhut and Bowers each scored twice during the run.
Western New England got as close as five goals twice during the remainder of the game, including 15-10 on a goal by junior Michael Donahue (South Windsor, CT) with 3:44 remaining in the third. However, the Jumbos answered by scoring the next four to lead 19-10 early in the fourth.
Tufts had ended the first quarter with a 6-3 lead which included back-to-back goals by Leventhal. Reardon and junior Sean Lawton (Abington, MA) helped the Golden Bears rally to tie the game at 8-8 with two goals apiece in the second. Schoenhut's man-up goal at 3:11 of the second quarter helped the Jumbos lead 10-8 at halftime and started their decisive run.
Tufts changed goalies after taking a 9-8 lead in the second. Junior starter Patton Watkins (Chattanooga, TN) finished with four saves in 26:49 of action. Freshman Alex Salazar (Summit, NJ) had an excellent collegiate debut with 11 saves and six goals allowed in 33:11 of relief. Junior Kane Delaney (Brookeville, MD) led Tufts with three caused turnovers and seven groundballs.
Lawton and Donahue both finished with two goals and an assist for WNE. Senior defenseman Aaron Harris (Eliot, ME) caused three turnovers and junior Nicky Donovan (Yorktown Heights, NY) scooped up seven groundballs. Sophomore Brandon Body (Newtown, CT) made 10 saves in goal.
The teams combined for 34 goals and 94 shots (49 by Tufts). There were 38 face-offs in the game, with 19 won by Tufts senior Brian Ruggiero (Huntington, NY).
Tufts returns to NESCAC action at home next Saturday against Trinity starting at 1 pm. Western New England will face Gordon in a CCC game on Tuesday at 4 pm.
Game Box Score
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