Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Press Releases

Monday, April 24, 2006

McNALLY EARNES NESCAC MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MEDFORD -- Needing to regroup after two straight losses, and three defeats in four games, the Tufts University men's lacrosse team did so in a big way last week with victories on the road against nationally ranked opponents Western New England College and Bates College.

The catalyst was a freshman who had scored two goals in 10 games entering the week. With the Jumbos struggling offensively, Clem McNally (Far Hills, NJ/St. George's) earned the first two starts of his career last week. He made them noteworthy by scoring eight goals in Tufts wins over #17 Western New England, 11-10, and against #13 Bates, 8-7 in double overtime. McNally was named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week, the first for Tufts this season.

McNally tied for the team high with three goals at Western New England on Tuesday (Apr. 18). He led the Jumbos with 12 shots. His first goal was the first of the game, the next tied the score at 4-4 and the third pulled Tufts within 9-8 after they had fallen behind 9-5. The Jumbos won on a goal by junior Brett Holm (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) with just 10 seconds left in the second half.

McNally scored five goals, including the game-winner with 2:40 left in the second overtime, to lead Tufts to a critical conference victory at Bates on Saturday. Of the five goals, which he scored on seven shots, he scored the first two Tufts goals, including the game's first goal again. His third goal tied the score at 5-5. He also scored the goal that tied the game at 7-7 with 4:06 remaining in the third period. After a scoreless fourth quarter and first OT period, he scored the winner off an assist from Holm.

An All-League selection at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island last year, McNally multiplied his season's goal total five times from two to 10 last week. He also has an assist for 11 points total in 10 games played. He did not play in three games earlier this season.

Tufts improved to 9-4 overall and 4-3 in NESCAC. They are in contention for a home field berth into the conference tournament that starts on Sunday (Apr. 30). They have home league games this week against Wesleyan on Wednesday and Connecticut College on Saturday.

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