MEDFORD, MA (March 6, 2024) -- The No. 3 Tufts University men's lacrosse team stifled visiting No. 4 Christopher Newport University in transition, using an effective ride and deadly transition attack to pull away midway through the game in an 18-10 non-conference victory over the Captains from a rainy, soggy Bello Field Wednesday night.
The Jumbos handed visiting Christopher Newport (5-1) its first loss of the season, as a potent, deep offensive group was aided by an aggressive defensive group that caused 24 turnovers on the night by CNU.
Tufts (2-0) wasted no time getting on the board in the opening frame, as
Max Ettinghausen scored straight off a failed clear just 22 seconds into the game to make it 1-0. CNU responded with two straight tallies to take the lead, but the first career goal by first-year
Will Emsing followed by the first of five goals on the night by sophomore
Jack Regnery made it 3-2 with 4:41 left in the first.
The 4-0 run for Tufts would continue with an Ettinghausen goal, followed by a
Ben Frisoli pole goal to make it 5-2. Christopher Newport scored to trim the Tufts' lead down to two, but the second quarter started with three goals by Tufts including the first of the season by
Kevin Christmas and
Joey Kraft to make it 8-3.
The lead for the Jumbos would swell up to as much as eight goals in the second quarter, with the hosts finishing the half on a 4-0 run on goals from
Louis Timmins,
Garrett Kelly,
Brooks Hauser and Regnery off a nice feed from sophomore
Ben Clarke in transition.
After the halftime intermission,
Charlie Tagliaferri started a stretch of four straight goals to open the third quarter as Tufts led 17-5 after Regnery's fifth of the night at 8:04 of the third. Clarke would tally his first career goal as a Jumbo in the fourth quarter, capping the scoring for Tufts as it cruised to the win.
In all, 11 players netted goals led by Regnery and his five tallies, as the sophomore also finished with five ground balls as well. Hauser had a strong game of two goals and two assists, adding two ground balls, and Frisoli showed his scoring touch with two goals, four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
Ettinghausen recorded two goals, three ground balls and an assist for Tufts, which outshot its visitors on Wednesday night 48-30.
Parker Merril was 7-of-14 on face-offs with six ground balls, while
Victor Salcedo went 8-for-14 with five ground balls.
Michael Ayers was everywhere defensively with five loose ball pickups and three caused turnovers, and
Joey Waldbaum scooped up four ground balls as well.
Junior short stick midfielder
Cam Delcristo had a great game for Tufts with two caused turnovers and two ground balls, and senior keeper Connor Garzone made seven saves in 54 minutes of action to earn the win.
Alex Brendes scored four goals for the Captains, while Andrew Cook added three in the loss. Declan McCulloch came off the bench in relief to make seven saves in 19 minutes of action.
Tufts will head out on the road for the first time in 2024, heading to Trinity College in Hartford, CT at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 to battle the Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play.
--JUMBOS--
