Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS BREAK RECORD FOR GOALS IN A GAME WITH 26-3 WIN AGAINST MOUNT IDA

COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE FINAL SCORE
Tufts 26, Mount Ida 3

At Medford, MA
Monday, March 23, 2009

Game Box Score

Freshman Nick Rhoads scored three goals, won 12 face-offs and scooped up eight ground balls

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University men's lacrosse team, newly ranked #9 in the USILA poll today, flexed its regional muscle by setting a new school record for goals in a game with a 26-3 win over five-time defending North Atlantic Conference champion Mount Ida College on a windy and cold Monday afternoon at Bello Field.

The Jumbos led 19-0 before the Mustangs got on the scoreboard with 3:26 remaining in the third quarter. Senior tri-captain Clem McNally (Far Hills, NJ) had five goals and an assist overall, sophomore D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD) scored two goals with five assists and freshman Sean Kirwan (Booton Township, NJ) added four goals and an assist. Seventeen players overall scored points for Tufts (6-0), and all three goalies saw action. The previous mark for most goals in a game was 23 by the 1999 Tufts team against College of Wooster.

Mount Ida (2-4) was led on Monday by a goal and an assist from senior Christopher Prophete (Waltham, MA). Junior Matt Vernik (Bethany, CT) started in goal and made 12 saves in the first half.

Tufts was up 16-0 at halftime in a thoroughly dominating performance. Over the first 30 minutes, they had a 33-6 advantage in shots and 34-8 in ground balls. Jumbo face-off men won 14 of 18 first-half draws and Tufts riders pressured Mount Ida into 14 failed clears during 21 attempts in the first two quarters. McNally scored all five of his goals in the first half, including the first three of the game in the opening 5:05 of play.

In the second half, as the Jumbos substituted, senior Brian Rassel (Birmingham, MI) scored the first goal of his career at 13:24 of the third quarter. The Mustangs scored back-to-back goals late in the third, with Prophete netting his fifth of the season at 3:26 and senior Brett Conley (Fairfield, CT) scoring at 2:07. Sophomore Paul Battipaglia (Clinton, CT) scored the third Mustang goal at 10:42 of the fourth.

Senior Matt Harrigan (Darnestown, MD) started and earned the victory in goal with one save for the Jumbos. Sophomore Bryan Petillo (Holbrook, NY) entered at 10:52 of the second period and made five saves through the third quarter. Freshman Steven Foglietta (Oceanside, NY) finished up with three saves in the final quarter. Freshman Kevin McCormick (Laytonsville, MD) was a perfect eight for eight on face-offs and classmate Nick Rhoads (McLean, VA) was 12 for 18. They led the team with eight ground balls apiece. Rhoads also had three goals and McCormick two. Junior defender Darius Bittle-Dockery (New Haven, CT) came up with four ground balls.

In the final stats, Tufts was up 58-20 in shots, 60-16 in ground balls and won 25 of 32 face-offs. They scored on three of seven extra-man opportunities, while holding Mount Ida scoreless in five man-up attempts.

Sophomore Frank Rozio (Clinton, CT) won three draws and had two ground balls for the visitors. Freshman James McAllister (Smithfield, RI) played the second half in goal and stopped six shots.

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