MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Trialing at halftime, the No. 13 nationally ranked Wesleyan men's lacrosse team broke the game open, outscoring Springfield 8-1 in the third quarter to score a comfortable 20-12 win on Wednesday afternoon on Citrin Field. Wesleyan (10-3) moves to 5-0 in non-league play while the Pride (6-7) suffered their first defeat in April, snapping a three-game win streak.
 
Wesleyan set the tone early with a goal from Will Shull '25 1:35 into play to take the early lead, while the Cardinal defense didn't allow the Pride to score until the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. That opening goal for the Pride, however, kick started a 3-0 run as Springfield suddenly led 3-2 with 3:57 left in the first. After nearly six minutes without a goal, Justin Hazard '23 scored twice in a span of 1:10, sending Wesleyan to a 4-3 lead after one.
 
After trading goals early in the quarter, Springfield clamped down defensively once again, holding Wesleyan scoreless for over nine minutes while the Pride took advantage offensively with four unanswered goals including two straight from Chris Santa Barbara as the Pride led 8-5. Hazard completed his hat trick in the first half while Matt Gill '23 netted his second of the day 1:10 later to cut the deficit down to one heading into the break.
 
The adjustments made at the half paid immediate dividends as Wesleyan played perhaps their best two-minute stretch all season, pouring it on with six goals in an incredible span of just 1:58. In this scoring spree, Springfield didn't hold the ball once in their offensive end, the Cardinals won all but one faceoff, continuing to apply pressure which turned into goals.
 
Spencer Robbins '22 was first to get on the board while CK Giancola '24 put in an unassisted strike from distance to give Wesleyan the lead. Thirty seconds later, Gill found Jake Sexton '22 open for another Cardinal tally before DJ Dixon '24 took his turn with a drive and finish at the net. Sexton later scored again and just 13 seconds later, Kyle Camphausen '22 made a great play in front of net off an immediate faceoff win, burying another goal to make it 13-8 Wesleyan.
 
A few minutes later, Wesleyan scored two more, both off the stick of Hazard as that capped what was a 10-0 scoring run that began late in the first half. Springfield broke the streak with their first goal in over 18 minutes of game action but it was their only strike of the quarter as Wesleyan outscored the Pride 8-1 in the frame.
 
That 10-0 run put the game away the two sides traded goals throughout the fourth quarter, with Riley Larsen '22 scoring on the man-up with six seconds left, giving Wesleyan their eighth 20+ goal outing in 13 games this season.
 
Wesleyan outshot Springfield 60-44 for the game and 21-9 in the third quarter alone. The Cardinals won the ground ball battle 41-25 and owned a dominating 27-9 edge in face offs.
 
Gill had his highest-scoring game since mid-March as he totaled nine points on three goals and six assists. His 40 assists this season lead the NESCAC while his 64 points rank fourth-most in the league. Hazard put up seven points including five goals and two assists as he leads the Cardinals with 42 goals this season.
 
Sexton and Dixon each netted hat tricks while Robbins posted three points (one goal, two assists). Nolan Collins '23 led the defensive effort with four caused turnovers and two ground balls. Tyler Campbell '25 went 13-for-17 while Kevin Talbot '24 finished 12-for-17 from the faceoff X.
 
In his first extended time in net, Sam Jewett '25 entered in relief, played 38 minutes and earned his first career win, registering seven saves with six goals allowed.
 
Next up for Wesleyan is a monster game at Williams on Sunday as the Cardinals will be going for a Little 3 title in addition to securing an important NESCAC win that would loom large in securing a home playoff game in the leadup to the NESCAC Tournament.