Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS STORM BACK FROM FIVE GOALS DOWN TO WIN IN OT

COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 13, Eastern Connecticut 12 (2ot)

At Medford, MA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Game Box Score

MEDFORD -- Down by five goals against Eastern Connecticut entering the fourth period, the seventh-ranked Tufts men's lacrosse team scored six times in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, and then won 13-12 on a goal by freshman D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD) in the second OT.

The upset-minded visitors from Eastern Connecticut (0-3) did not trail all game until the final score. They jumped to a 7-4 halftime lead behind five goals from junior D.J. Simmons (Mystic, CT). They added to their lead in the third period with four more goals for an 11-6 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Playing with desperation, Tufts scored four times in the first five minutes of the fourth period to make it an 11-10 game. Three came off the stick of sophomore attackman Patrick Devine (Braintree, MA). Eastern went up 12-10 on Matthew Savage's (Southington, CT) second goal of the game at the seven-minute mark. The Jumbos answered with goals by Doug DiSesa (Wynnewood, PA) at 6:06 and Brett Holm (Longmeadow, MA) at 4:36 for a 12-12 tie that would last until the end of regulation.

Tufts goalie Matt Harrigan (Darnestown, MD) stopped two shots in the first overtime period. Two minutes into the second overtime, Eastern Connecticut had possession behind its goal under heavy Tufts pressure. A loose ball eventually squirted out in front of the net, where Hessler was able to grab it alone and score the game-winner with 1:56 on the clock.

The winning goal was the fifth point of the game for Hessler, who had three goals and two assists. Devine and junior Peter Whitney (Baltimore, MD), who had two goals and an assist, were also multiple-point scorers for the hosts. Harrigan finished with nine saves.

Tufts was able to slow down Simmons in the second half. He finished with the five goals and a game-high 10 shots. Senior Tyler Prescott (Norwalk, CT) and freshman Brendan Hoppey (Shoreham, NY) each had two goals and an assist for the Warriors. Junior goalie Kyle Savage (Southington, CT) stopped 15 shots overall. Senior Jon Snedeker (Southington, CT) was solid on defense with five ground balls.

The Jumbos finished with a 54-36 tally in shots, led by nine from senior Matt Caple (Wellesley, MA). Tufts also won 18 of 29 face-offs, with sophomore Mike Droesch (Setauket, NY) taking 12 and freshman Brett Olson (Huntington, NY) finishing 6 for 8. Thirteen penalties were whistled, but Caple scored the lone man-up goal.

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