Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Press Releases

HESSLER WINS NESCAC MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

MEDFORD -- One of the most marked men in NCAA Division III lacrosse this season, Tufts University junior D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD) is still getting his points and this week has earned the New England Small College Athletic Conference's second (NESCAC) Player of the Week award of the 2010 season.

Most importantly, Hessler's man-down goal with 3:54 remaining in the Jumbos' game at Colby on Saturday lifted the visitors to a 10-9 victory. It was his third goal of the game, including a strike that pulled Tufts within 3-2 early in the second quarter after a slow start. His other goal gave the Jumbos a two-goal lead at 9-7 early in the fourth during a man-advantage.

Earlier in the week during a 20-4 rout of Lasell at home, Hessler scored seven points on two goals with five assists. For the week, he finished with five goals and five assists for 10 points in the two games. He had two man-up goals and the one man-down winner.

Hessler led NESCAC in scoring last season with 89 points (42 goals, 47 assists). This season, with opposing defenses paying much more attention to him, Hessler is tied for fifth in the league with his six goals and six assists totaling 12 points. His three man-up goals overall are tied for second in the conference.

A First Team All-NESCAC selection last season and a Second Team All-Conference honoree as a freshman in 2008, Hessler has now won two NESCAC Player of the Week honors. He earned a share of the award on March 9 of last season.

The Jumbos, ranked ninth this week by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, are one of four NESCAC season with undefeated overall records early in the 2010 season. Connecticut College is atop the conference at 4-0, while Tufts and Middlebury are next at 3-0, and Williams sits at 2-0. All four are 2-0 in league play.

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