JUMBOS GIVE COLBY FIRST NESCAC LOSS, 7-5

MEN'S COLLEGE LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 7    Colby 5

At Waterville, ME
Saturday, April 13, 2002

Goals: T - Bryan Griffin 3, Jim Mandler, David Supple, Chris Kollar , Jack Palmer; C - Josh Cleaver 2, Blake Grosch, Barron Butler, Eric Siedel.

Assists: T - Griffin, Mandler, Supple, Jon Zissi; C - Siedel 2, Kane, Grosch.

Saves: T, Kirk Lutwyler 9; C, John Shea 12.

WATERVILLE, ME -- Freshman Bryan Griffin (West Islip, NY) scored three goals in the fourth period as the Tufts Jumbos (6-3) rallied from a 5-4 deficit to top the Colby College White Mules (6-2), 7-5, at Seaverns Field. With the win, Tufts knocked 20th-ranked Colby from the unbeaten ranks in NESCAC.

The victory was powered by an outstanding goaltending performance from senior Kirk Lutwyler (Ridgewood, NJ). The Mules offense created some offensive chances in the closing minutes, but Lutwyler made big save after big save to preserve the win. John Shea (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) played well in the loss for Colby.

The Mules opened the scoring when Eric Siedel (Durham, N.H.) worked the ball behind the net, drawing the Jumbo defense, and then found a wide open in the crease Blake Grosch (Warren, N.J.) for a score. Tufts answered minutes later when senior co-captain Jim Mandler (Smithtown, NY) shot one past the Colby netminder to even the score. The final score of the first quarter would come when Mandler hit fellow co-captain David Supple (Rowayton, CT) as he was cutting across the middle with a crisp pass, which Supple shot into the net for a 2-1 lead.

The Mules scored first in the second when Barron Butler (Marblehead, Mass.) rifled a groundball shot past Lutwyler from 20 feet away to tie the score. Tufts would retake the lead when junior Chris Kollar (Middle Island, NY) scooped up a groundball in front of the Colby net and bounced it past Shea for a 3-2 score. Colby was able to tie up the score with 15 seconds remaining in the half when Siedel came around the left side of the net and scored.

Tufts retook the lead when Supple passed from the far side of the net to cutting senior Jack Palmer (Vestal, NY) for a score. The back and forth nature of the contest would continue when Colby retied the score, with Siedel picking up his second assist when Josh Cleaver (Kennett Square, Pa.) tied the score at 4-4. The Mules pulled ahead 5-4 when Cleaver scored his second straight goal cutting down the left side of the net. Colby entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 5-4 lead.

Tufts would score first in the final frame, when Griffin was able to get a slow roller past a blocked Shea to tie the score. Griffin scored again minutes later to give the Jumbos a 6-5 lead with 10 minutes to go. Griffin was at the right place at the right time minutes later, positioned on the right post for a rebound and his third straight goal to open a two-goal lead.