Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Press Releases

TUFTS UNIVERSITY TO HOST NESCAC MEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND

Junior Matt Witko has a career-high 27 goals for the Jumbos in 2010

MEDFORD -- For the second time in program history, the Tufts University men's lacrosse team will host the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship semi-finals and final this weekend (May 8-9). Games will be played at Bello Field.

Tufts earned the #2 seed into the conference championship tournament this year with an 8-1 record. However, #1 seed Connecticut College lost 6-5 to #8 seed Wesleyan in the first round of the tournament. That allowed the Jumbos to host the semi-finals and championship game this weekend. Tufts will face Wesleyan on Saturday at 12 noon in a rematch of last season's championship game won by the Cardinals 14-10.

In Saturday's other semi-final game at Bello, #4 seed Bowdoin and #6 seed Middlebury will meet at Bello beginning at 3 pm. The championship game is set for Sunday at 12 noon.

Ranked sixth nationally and first in New England, Tufts set a school record for victories this spring with their 14-1 record. They defeated Wesleyan 14-11 during the regular season, and also have regular-season wins over Bowdoin (14-13 in overtime) and Middlebury (10-5). Coach Mike Daly's team is in search of its first NESCAC title.

The Cardinals, who were the first #8 seed to beat a #1 seed in the history of the conference men's lacrosse championship, are 8-7 overall. They won their first conference championship last season. Bowdoin (9-6) likewise had a stirring win over Colby in the quarterfinals, scoring twice in the final 20 seconds of the fourth quarter and winning the game 12-11 in overtime. Like Tufts, the Polar Bears seek their first NESCAC crown. Seven-time league champion Middlebury, who won 15-12 over Amherst in the first round, is 10-4 overall and is ranked 16th nationally.

This weekend's teams are four of the top six ranked squads in New England. Below the #1 Jumbos are #2 Bowdoin, #4 Middlebury, and #6 Wesleyan.

All three of this weekend's games will be carried by JumboCast, Tufts University student-operated webcasting outfit. Games can be accessed for free at www.jumbocast.net. Live stats of all three games will also be available at http://ase.tufts.edu/athletics/statscrew/xlive.htm.

Admission is free to this weekend's games.

►Read the NESCAC Preview

►Directions to Tufts University's Bello Field

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