OWINGS MILLS, MD (March 16, 2024) -- No. 2 Tufts University fell to No. 3 RIT, 16-11 on the night two of the 2024 Mustang Classic from Mustang Stadium on the campus of Stevenson University.
The Tigers (7-0) used a 9-1 scoring run over nearly 20 minutes of action in the first half to open up a 9-3 lead.
Tufts (4-1) took an early 2-0 lead 21 seconds into the contest as Cam Delcristo got the scoring started off a feed from Ben Frisoli. Frisoli would score to double the lead. RIT would go on a four goal scoring run to take a 4-2 lead with 6:13 to go in the first quarter. Garrett Kelly put a stop to the scoring run for the Tigers as Tufts trailed 4-3 with 4:33 to play in the opening quarter.
Another 5-0 run from RIT extended their lead out to six goal at 9-3 with 6:37 to play before halftime. Max Ettinghausen and Brooks Hauser pulled the Jumbos back within four as they would score 1:24 apart as Hauser would assist on Ettinghausen's goal while Jack Regnery picked up the helper on Hauser's goal. A Tiger goal with seven seconds to play gave them a 10-5 lead going to the halftime break.
Hauser got the scoring started scoring the second half on the man-up off another Regnery assist while a Louis Timmins tally brought the Jumbos to within three with 4:58 to play in the third quarter. RIT wouldn't let Tufts get any closer as they potted two of their own including one with 29 seconds to play to take a 12-7 heading to the fourth.
Goals from Kelly and Regnery less than a minute into the fourth quarter again cut the lead to three. The Tigers would respond with one of their own to take a 13-9 lead, as Kelly would complete his hat trick thanks to a Hauser assist with just over 10 minutes to play.
A minute later RIT would get the lead back up to four with Ettinghausen this time scoring as Tufts trailed 14-11 with 8:40 to play. The Jumbos were unable to cut into the Tigers lead the rest of the way as RIT would add two late goals to secure the victory.
Hauser finished with four points in the setback, as he finished with two goals, two assists and five ground balls. Regnery matched Hauser's four points as the sophomore had one goal and three assists.
Kelly posted three goals while Ettinghausen added two goals. Delcristo, Frisoli, and Timmins all had solo tallies in the contest. Victor Salcedo led Tufts at the "X" going 11-20.
Joey Waldbaum led the defense with nine ground balls and three caused turnovers. Delcristo finished with two caused turnovers and a ground ball, while George Panagopoulos and Michael Ayers both caused a turnover.
Senior Connor Garzone made 15 stops between the pipes for the Jumbos. Tufts outshot RIT in the game, 50-42 and only had 14 turnovers to the Tigers 20. The Jumbos also forced RIT into five unsuccessful clear attempts as they would have the ground ball advantage, 47-44.
Clifford Gaston led RIT with five goals and an assist on the day, while Luke Pilcher added five points. Four other Tigers recorded three points.
Tufts will return to action on Saturday, March 23 when they travel to Hoboken and take on No. 17 Stevens at 1 PM.
--JUMBOS--
