BRUNSWICK, ME (May 2, 2026) -- The No. 2 ranked and second-seeded Tufts University men's lacrosse team earned a spot in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title game for the 16th time Saturday, knocking off fifth-seeded Bates College 15-7 in play from Bowdoin College. 

The Jumbos (16-1) will now take on Bowdoin College in the NESCAC title game, after the Polar Bears knocked off Hamilton College Saturday 17-11. Tufts and Bowdoin will meet in the NESCAC title game for the third time, and the first since 2022. The Jumbos are looking for their 14th NESCAC crown Sunday, while Bowdoin is in search of its first. 

Tufts wasted no time taking complete control of Saturday's second semifinal contest, as Tufts netted the first seven goals of the game including outscoring Bates 6-0 in the first quarter. Senior Jack Regnery and junior Jackson Redd each scored twice in the first frame. 

Senior Brooks Hauser finished the 7-0 stretch with his second of the game at 14:47 of the second quarter, before Riley McClure scored to get the Bobcats (11-5) on the board. The second frame would only feature three goals in total, as Tufts took an 8-1 lead into the break. 

Tufts pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Bates 5-2 in the period to take a 13-3 lead into the final 15 minutes. Senior Bowman Rhinesmith and first-year Drew Bossi each scored in the fourth quarter, pushing the Tufts lead up to as many as 11 as the Jumbos cruised into Sunday's final. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Jack Old was stellar in his 45 minutes of action, stopping 10 shots while allowing just three goals. 

Hauser led all players with six points on four goals and two assists, and junior Will Emsing netted one goal while setting up three more. Regnery, Redd and Peter Kraemer each scored twice for the Jumbos, who outshot their foes 36-31 on the afternoon. 

Senior face-off Victor Salcedo was 7-for-10 on face-offs, while junior Lucas De la Paz was 5-for-9 at "X" with four grounders. The Jumbos went 17-for-26 on draws, winning the ground ball battle 26-21. 

McClure finished with three goals and two helpers to pace the Bobcats, while Connor Hartman had four scores as well. 

Tufts and Bowdoin will square off at Whittier Field Sunday at noon in Brunswick, Maine.