The Colby Echo

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tate Kaneshige

The third-seeded Tufts University Jumbos knocked off the sixth-seeded Mules in postseason New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play on Sunday. The loss concludes the season for Colby College men's lacrosse. The Mules finished up with a 4-5 record in the NESCAC and 8-7 overall. Colby also played Bates College over the weekend and dropped the game to the lowly Bobcats, costing them a home playoff game. If Colby had beaen Bates, they would have played Williams College in the quarterfinals. The Mules beat Williams at home in the first game of the season. Excluding the home loss to Bates, the Mules were undefeated at home.

On Sunday April 26 the Mules traveled to Medford to face a nationally eighth-ranked Tufts squad for a 3 p.m. playoff game. In an earlier meeting this year, Colby lost to Tufts 14-9. Sunday's loss drops Colby to 0-3 in the past two years facing Tufts (12-3). After surrendering the first goal, Colby stormed back for three straight goals. Mark Squicciarino '11 tallied two goals during that span of time. The Jumbos came right back with three goals of their own before halftime, and went to the locker room ahead of Colby 4-3.

After a Tufts goal to open the third period, Whit McCarthy '10 scored for the Mules to bring them closer to a tie. However, Tufts went on its second scoring run of the day and took advantage of man-up situations to put itself ahead 9-4 by the start of the fourth quarter. The Mules played Tufts evenly the rest of the way, but could not take advantage of their man-up situations as Tufts had done. Colby drew the game to within a manageable three goals on a 3-1 run, but Tufts scored twice late in the fourth to put the game away for good. Patrick Briody '10 scored the last goal of the game and the Mules lost 12-8.
Alex Farmer '09 played a solid final game in net, making nine saves. Yet the difference in the game was the Jumbos' ability to capitalize on man-up situations. Indeed, Colby gave up goals in 75% of their man down situations and only scored 40% of the time when they had an additional man. Squicciarino led the team with four goals. Dynamic midfielder Craig Bunker '11 and tri-captain Jason Forino '09 both had five groundballs.

Bates College came to Colby on Friday and stole a win from Colby, denying them home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the win, Bates-at 4-9 overall and 2-7 in the NESCAC-did not make the playoffs. This game highlights an odd quality that the Mules have taken on over the past few years. They play extremely well against the top tier teams, beating several nationally ranked teams, then lose to bottom-of-the-barrel squads. Either way, Bates took a 3-2 lead into the second half. The Mules then went on a huge 6-0 streak before giving up a goal right before the half. Little did Colby know, that would be all the scoring Bates would allow all game. Leading the Mules at halftime were tri-captains Caddy Brooks '09 and Briody, both with two goals. Tri-captain James Brady '09 also got in on the action with an assist.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools