Box Score MEDFORD - Second-seed Tufts scored nine goals in the first period, but had to withstand a strong comeback by seven-seed Hamilton College to earn a 15-12 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NESCAC Championship Saturday afternoon at Bello Field.
|
| Senior co-captain Cole Bailey figured in four of the Jumbos' goals |
The Jumbos (14-2) move on to the semi-finals where they will play #3 seed Middlebury College next Saturday at Amherst in a 3 pm start. The top seed Lord Jeffs face five-seed Bates in the other semi-final at noon Saturday. The championship game is on Sunday at noon.
Tufts looked as though they were going to steamroll the Continentals today, with seven players scoring goals in the first quarter as Tufts took a 9-1 lead. Senior Peter Gill and John Uppgren both scored twice as the Jumbos started strong.
Hamilton, however, who had lost 25-6 at Tufts two weeks ago during the regular season, showed great fight as they battled back to within 10-9. Freshman Jack Gaul scored with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter to initiate a stretch during which Hamilton scored eight of the next nine goals.
The visitors out-scored the Jumbos 5-1 in the second quarter including two goals by senior Connor Morgan and a goal with an assist from senior John Zimmerman. The Tufts lead was 10-7 at halftime.
Intermission didn't stall Hamilton's momentum, as Zimmerman and junior Joe Ricciuti scored the first goals goals of the third quarter pulling the Continentals within one (10-9) at 8:22 of the period.
The Jumbos would stop the bleeding with four straight, as Uppgren assisted the first three and scored the fourth putting Tufts ahead 14-9 heading into the fourth. All four goals were scored in the final five minutes of the third after the Jumbos had tallied just once in the previous 28 minutes.
Senior Pax Anthos scored twice early in the fourth to pull Hamilton within 14-11, but that's as close as they would get despite winning the quarter three goals to one.
Uppgren led the Jumbos with three goals and four assists, while Gill scored three times and Bailey had two goals and two assists. Senior Cem Kalkavan caused three turnovers and junior goalie Alex Salazar made 13 saves.
Freshman Eric Zurmuehle was outstanding on face-offs for Hamilton, winning 17 of 25 and grabbing 15 groundballs. Zimmerman finished with two goals and two assists while junior Sam Sweet set up four goals. Senior Will Driscoll made all 17 of his saves in the first three periods, including seven in the third. Sellers Garrett caused two turnovers defensively.
Shots and groundballs were very even as Tufts had a small 44-40 edge in the former and the latter was tied at 28.
#
