Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Schedule & Results

SEVEN GOALS FROM MCNALLY LEAD TUFTS TO 14-9 NESCAC WIN OVER COLBY

COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 14, Colby 9

At Medford, MA
Saturday, March 14, 2009

Game Box Score

Clem McNally scored seven goals for the second time in his career

MEDFORD -- Senior tri-captain Clem McNally (Far Hills, NJ) matched his career high with seven goals as the Tufts University men's lacrosse team scored a 14-9 victory over an upstart Colby College team in NESCAC play on Saturday afternoon at Bello Field.

Tufts (3-0, 2-0 NESCAC) scored the first four goals of the game, but had to fend off a comeback by Colby (2-1, 1-1 NESCAC). The Jumbo lead was only 5-3 at the half and 9-7 after three quarters, but the hosts scored the first five goals of the fourth period to put the game away.

McNally added an assist for an eight-point game. He previously scored seven goals in a NESCAC game against Bates on April 30, 2007. The total is the third-most in a game in Tufts history. Sophomore Ryan Molloy (Setauket, NY) added three goals and an assist to the Jumbo attack and classmate D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD) finished with a goal and three assists. Senior goaltender Matt Harrigan (Darnestown, MD) played well in goal with 11 saves against Colby.

Colby at least matched Tufts in possession time, won the ground-ball battle 40-26 and got three quarters of face-off dominance from sophomore Craig Bunker (Topsfield, MA). Junior Whit McCarthy (Darien, CT) and sophomore Mark Squicciarino (Titusville, NJ) scored three times each for the Mules. Senior tri-captain Caddy Brooks (Darien, CT) had two goals with an assist and senior Alex Farmer (Madison, CT) made 12 saves in goal.

Tufts led 4-0 early in the second period, with McNally scoring twice and Hessler setting up two goals. Colby came back by scoring three of the next four, including a goal and an assist by Brooks.

Into the third, the Jumbos regained the momentum with three straight goals, two by McNally, to lead 8-3 with 8:49 remaining. The Mules rallied again, scoring four times over the final 7:41 of the third to make it a two-goal game entering the fourth. McCarthy scored three of the four goals by visitors.

Sophomore Matt Witko (Chappaqua, NY) got the five-goal run to start the fourth period going for Tufts at 9:54 for a 10-7 advantage. Just 24 seconds later, McNally gave the hosts a four-goal cushion (11-7). Hessler, Molloy and McNally added three more goals to up the Jumbo lead to 14-7 with 3:51 remaining. Brooks and Squicciarino scored the last two Colby goals for the 14-9 final.

Bunker had schooled the Jumbos on face-offs for the first three quarters, winning 15 out of 19. However, in the fourth, with the game on the line, Jumbos Mike Droesch (Setauket, NY) and Nick Rhoads (McLean, VA) combined to win five out of eight draws. Droesch finished with seven wins for Tufts, while Bunker was 18 for 26 on the afternoon. Three ground balls apiece by McNally and Hessler led Tufts, while Brooks and freshman Jon McIvor (Sudbury, MA) scooped up four for the Mules.

Tufts takes its spring break trip next and will play at #14 Haverford on Tuesday (Mar. 17) in Pennsylvania. Colby hosts Wheaton College on Tuesday.

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