MIDDLEBURY NIPS TUFTS IN OVERTIME, 11-10

COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Middlebury 11    Tufts 10    ot

At Middlebury, VT
Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Goals: M, Mike Saraceni 3, Dave Leach 2, Aaron Herter 2, Charley Howe 1, Andrew Giordano 1, Bob Wannop 1, Travis Meyer 1; T,  Bryan Griffin 4, Devin Clarke 3, Billy Granger 2, Michael Hughes 1.

Assists: M, Mark Foster 3, Saraceni 1, Leach 1, Howe 1, Giordano 1; T, Drew Innis 1.

Saves: M, Eric Krieger (63:53 - 10 GA) 9 saves; T, Luke Chicco (63:53 - 11 GA) 13 saves.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Charley Howe scored with a low shot from the left side with just seven seconds left in overtime to lift second-ranked Middlebury to an 11-10 win over #14 Tufts in a NESCAC contest played on
Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium.

The game was tied at two heading into the second quarter when Tufts scored four straight goals to take a 6-2 lead. The middle two goals during the run were scored down low by junior All-American Bryan Griffin (West Islip, NY). Middlebury's Andrew Giordano answered late in the quarter with a high hard shot from the outside to cut the lead to 6-3 entering halftime.

The Panthers came out flying in the third quarter, out-scoring Tufts 6-1 on their way to 9-7 lead entering the final stanza. The six goals were scored in a 7:15 span, with two of them coming from Dave Leach. The Jumbos had an answer to start the fourth quarter as they scored three straight to take a 10-9 lead. Junior Devin Clarke's (Ridgewood, NJ) goal with 5:21 left in the quarter came driving to the goal from the right side, as the
Jumbos regained the lead. Middlebury tied the game with just 44 seconds left in the quarter as Mike Saraceni took a feed from Mark Foster before ripping a low shot into the back of the net. Howe had a chance to win it
with 18 seconds left, but he was stuffed by Tufts keeper Luke Chicco (Merrick, NY) from point-blank range.

Chicco came up big early in overtime as Howe had a great shot in transition off the face-off, but could not convert. After another 45 seconds of offense, Tufts would possess the ball until late in the game. The Jumbos mustered up four shots, with Eric Krieger making two saves during the overtime period. The Panthers took a timeout with 24 seconds left, setting up Howe's game-winner.

Krieger ended the day with nine saves, while Chicco made 13. The game was a rematch of last year's NESCAC championship, which Middlebury also won.

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