MEDFORD -- Senior Connor Ginsberg (New Haven, CT) scored three goals as the #7 Tufts men's lacrosse team opened its NESCAC schedule with a 7-4 victory over Williams College at home on Bello Field Saturday afternoon.

The Jumbos (3-0, 1-0 NESCAC) had a 3-1 lead at halftime, but Williams (0-2, 0-2) dominated possession in the third quarter and scored three times for a 4-4 tie heading into the fourth. The Jumbos scored three times in the final period and blanked the Ephs for the 7-4 final. Freshman D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD), junior Kevin Williams (Merrick, NY) and Ginsberg scored the fourth-period goals for Tufts.

Williams College received an excellent effort from junior goalie Michael Gerbush (Glen Head, NY), who finished with 17 saves. He had seven in the first period, when Tufts took a 2-0 lead. Ginsberg opened the scoring and sophomore Jamie Atkins (Concord, MA) also tallied. Tufts was up 3-0 in the second quarter on a goal by Patrick Devine (Braintree, MA) before Williams scored its first goal by senior Michael Lewen (Pittsburgh, PA) at 9:50 of the second quarter.

Freshman Corey Jacobs (Somers, CT) was strong on face-offs all day for the Ephs, finishing 10 for 15. He was 4 for 5 in the third quarter when the Ephs made a game of it. Goals by Kevin Connolly (Simsbury, CT) and David Hawley (New Canaan, CT) tied the score at 3-3 with 6:05 left in the quarter. Ginsberg scored to put Tufts up 4-3, but the lead was short-lived as Jacobs went down and scored after winning the draw.

The victory avenges Tufts' loss to Williams last season, their only defeat in conference play. Senior quad-captain Tucker Merrigan (Greenfield, MA) continued to be a leader on and off the field for the Jumbos, scooping up four ground balls to lead the team.

Hawley had a game-high 10 shots for Williams, while five ground balls by Jacobs was also the game's best mark.

Williams (0-2, 0-2 NESCAC)   0   1   3   0   =   4
Tufts (3-0, 1-0 NESCAC)      2   1   1   3   =   7

Goals: T, Connor Ginsberg 3, D.J. Hessler 1, Patrick Devine 1, Jamie Atkins 1, Kevin Williams 1; W, David Hawley 1, Michael Lewen 1, Kevin Connolly 1, Corey Jacobs 1.

Assists: T, Chase Bibby 1, Perry Choren 1, Jordan Yarboro 1; W, Dixon Hargrove 1.

Goalies: T, Matt Harrigan (60:00 – 4 GA) 4 saves; Michael Gerbush (60:00 – 7 GA) 17.

2008-03-15