Box Score MEDFORD - Senior co-captain Cole Bailey and junior John Uppgren both scored four goals as the Tufts University men's lacrosse team defeated Bates College 13-8 in the second round of the NCAA Championship at Bello Field Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos, who are the defending NCAA champions, advance to the national quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season. They will host Amherst College on Wednesday at Bello Field. The game time has not been announced. The Lord Jeffs defeated Middlebury 16-10 in other NCAA second-round action today.
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Tufts led Bates just 8-7 heading into the fourth quarter, but out-scored the Bobcats 5-1 in the final 15 minutes. The Jumbos improved to 18-2 with the victory and have won 13 in a row at home during NCAA play.
The Bobcats, making their first NCAA appearance, ended their season at 11-6. They were led by two goals and two assists from sophomore Kyle Weber.
Bates had led 2-1 after one quarter of play. Junior Jack Allard and Weber sandwiched a goal by Tufts' Bailey.
Two straight by junior Garrett Clarke and Bailey put Tufts in front 3-2, but freshman Clarke Jones netted his third goal of the season to tie the score at 3-3 early in the second. However, the Jumbos would score four of the next five to lead 7-4. Sophomore Zach Richman had two of the tallies. Bates closed to within 7-5 on sophomore Charlie Fay's goal with just seven seconds left in the quarter.
When Uppgren scored his third of the game and 62nd of the season to begin the second-half scoring, Tufts led 8-5. The Bobcats would score twice in the final 3:18 - Weber and freshman Max Breschi - and then nearly missed tying the game late in the third when Allard's laser hit the crossbar.
The Jumbos would own the fourth quarter, out-shooting the Bobcats 15-8 while Bates committed seven turnovers. Bailey and Uppgren both scored twice in the priod to put Tufts in front 13-7. Senior Jack Strain scored with 3:33 left for Bates, but it was too little too late.
Uppgren added two assists for a six-point game while also causing two turnovers. Clarke had two goals and an assist while senior Jeff Chang caused three turnovers. Senior defenseman Cem Kalkavan finished with two caused turnovers and three groundballs while linemate Blake Wood also caused two turnovers. Junior Alex Salazar made eight saves in goal. The Jumbos allowed just three second-half goals.
Bates finished with a slim 14-13 advantage on face-offs with sophomore Sam Francis winning seven. Strain scored twice while both Fay and Allard had a goal and an assist. Defensively, junior Colby Spehler and sophomore Charlie Gravina caused two turnovers. Junior Ken O'Friel led the Bobcats with seven groundballs. Junior goalie Joe Faria was tremendous early with six first-quarter saves and finished with 13.
Tufts had a 54-39 advantage in shots, though Bates won groundballs 33-30.
Bates had beaten the Jumbos 12-8 at Bello on April 7, handing 10-0 and #1 ranked Tufts its first loss of the season at the time.
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma / Tufts
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