MEDFORD, Mass. – Top-seed and No. 8 nationally ranked Tufts was just too much for the fourth-seeded and No. 13 ranked Wesleyan men's lacrosse team, who fell to the host Jumbos 17-9 in the NESCAC Semifinal round. Wesleyan (12-5) awaits word on an NCAA Tournament berth, which will come on the NCAA Selection Show slated for Sunday at 9 PM.
 
Tufts (15-2) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as Jack Boyden scored four straight goals to open play. The Cardinals weathered Boyden's four goals and managed two before the end of the quarter, as DJ Dixon '24 and Justin Hazard '23 netted goals to make it 4-2 Jumbos after one.
 
Boyden was involved once again, scoring his fifth goal of the game 2:27 into the second quarter, before Dixon answered right back to cut the Tufts lead down to two. But it was all Jumbos after Dixon's second as three unanswered Tufts goals made it 8-3 at the half.
 
Matt Gill '23 scored his first of the game 1:34 into the second half, giving the Cardinals some life to start the third quarter. However, Tufts answered with their third scoring run of at least three goals, as Mac Bredahl scored just 29 seconds apart to make it 11-4.
 
Tufts later led 13-6 entering the fourth which then became a 16-6 advantage before ultimately closing out a 17-9 victory.
 
The Jumbos outshot Wesleyan 55-40 and forced the Cardinals into a season-high 28 turnovers while Tufts turned the ball over just 12 times.
 
Hazard led the Cardinal attack with two goals and two assists for four points. Dixon netted a hat trick with three goals while CK Giancola '24 finished with three points (one goal, two assists). Nolan Collins '23 racked up five ground balls and one caused turnover to lead the Cardinal defense.
 
Tyler Campbell '25 was solid at the X, going 14-for-26 with seven ground balls. Colin Hanley '22 got the start and tallied 12 saves in net.
 
Bredahl racked up nine points (three goals, six assists) while Boyden finished with seven goals as the duo led the dynamic Jumbo attack all throughout the afternoon.
 
Wesleyan now awaits word on if the Cardinals will earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament in what would be Wesleyan's eighth trip to national postseason tournament.