TUFTS ADVANCES TO NESCAC CHAMPIONSHIP

COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
NESCAC Tournament Semi-final
Tufts 8    Wesleyan 7

At Middlebury, Vt.
Saturday, May 3, 2003

Goals: T, Bryan Griffin 4, Mike O'Brien 1, Devin Clarke 1, Matt Malatesta 1, Michael Hughes 1; W, Ian Applegate 5, Chris Knacke 1, Chris Meade 1.

Assists: T, David Taylor 2, Griffin 1, O'Brien 1; W, Glen Adams 2, Applegate 1, Knacke 1.

Saves: T, Luke Chicco 6; W, Matt Wheeler 22.

Shots: T, 65; W, 25.

Man-Up: T, 1/6; W, 0/1.

Face-offs: T, 14; W, 5

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The clutch Tufts Men's Lacrosse team will make its first appearance in the NESCAC Championship game after an 8-7 win over Wesleyan in the semifinals at Middlebury on Saturday afternoon. The Jumbos will take on the host Panthers on Sunday at noon in the title game. Wesleyan ends their season with an 11-5 mark.

Wesleyan came out strong, scoring four of the game's first five goals. Chris Knacke had a pair of goals to help spark the run which gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead after one quarter. Tufts sophomore Bryan Griffin (West Islip, NY) scored the only goal of the second quarter at the 11:42 mark to cut the lead to 4-2 at the half.

Ian Applegate made it a 5-2 Wesleyan lead early in the third quarter before Tufts ran off four unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead early in the fourth quarter. Four different goal scorers found the back of the net during the run for Tufts. Applegate answered for the Cardinals as he scored twice to regain the lead for Wesleyan at 7-6 with 7:50 left to play. Griffin tied the game at the 5:12 mark as he took a nice feed from behind the net from freshman Mike O'Brien (Concord, MA) before he finished. The Jumbos won the ensuing face-off and Griffin scored the game-winner just 34 seconds later, driving to the net.

Wesleyan had the ball on offense for the final 1:52 of the game, but sophomore Luke Chicco (Merrick, NY) made three saves on four Wesleyan shots in the final few minutes of the contest to preserve the win. Griffin led Tufts with four goals on the afternoon, while Applegate scored five for Wesleyan.

Tomorrow's NESCAC championship game will be the first for Tufts, ranked 20th in the nation this week.

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