MEDFORD, MA (April 6, 2024) -- Visiting and No. 20 Wesleyan University used a four-goal run in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good, earning a 16-14 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) win over the No. 4 Tufts University men's lacrosse team on Bello Field Saturday.
The contest was a game of runs, as each team surged forward throughout the game started by a 5-2 spurt in the opening quarter by the visitors. Tufts finished the first stanza on a three-goal run, capped by a
Will Emsing goal with five seconds left in the frame to make it 5-5 after 15 minutes.
Wesleyan (8-2, 5-1 NESCAC) netted the first two goals of the second period, a low-scoring frame that ended with a man-up goal by Tufts'
Jack Regnery to make it 7-6 Wesleyan after the first 30 minutes. That Regnery goal would help jump start the offense for Tufts, as the momentum continued into the third period as Tufts scored the first three goals of the half capped by Regnery's 37th of the season to make it 9-7 Tufts.
Wesleyan tied the game back up at nine, but a
Brooks Hauser goal made it 10-9 with 4:40 to go in the third period off a nice feed from Regnery. Ben Burns tallied back-to-back goals for the Cardinals but Hauser netted another unassisted on a bullet to the top corner to send the game to the fourth frame deadlocked at 11.
Hauser put in another for the Jumbos to start the fourth quarter, as he struck just 26 seconds in the period to make it 12-11. That would be the final lead of the game for Tufts, as Wesleyan found the net four straight times before
Max Ettinghausen stopped the run with his 26th of the season. Tufts drew closer at 15-14 on a
Cam Delcristo goal with four minutes left, but Burns an insurance goal for the Cardinals to make it 16-14. Tufts has four more shots to get closer, but Wesleyan held on for the win.
Tufts outshot its visitors Saturday 48-38 on Saturday, and won the ground ball tally 42-31 which included a 19-of-32 edge on face-offs.
Joey Waldbaum had a big game for Tufts with eight ground balls, while
Parker Merril was 10-of-16 from the "X" with five loose balls.
Victor Salcedo posted wins in nine of his 16 draws, adding six grounders and
Michael Ayers caused two turnovers.
Hauser tied his career-high for points with six, scoring three times to go with three assists. Regnery copied Hauser's line with three goals and three helpers and
Charlie Tagliaferri scored three times to go with two ground balls. Emsing also posted two points on a goal and assist, while
Ben Frisoli scored once while picking up a grounder and causing a turnover. Connor Garzone made 10 saves in the game.
Jack Raba posted six points Saturday for Wesleyan, and Burns led all goal scorers with four. Conor Selfridge made 12 saves in the win.
Tufts will be back on the road on Wednesday, April 10 at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in more NESCAC action.
--JUMBOS--
