MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A 10-goal first quarter proved more than enough for the No. 16 ranked Wesleyan men's lacrosse team as the Cardinals defeated Hamilton, 19-11, on Saturday afternoon from Citrin Field. The Cardinals (6-2, 3-1 NESCAC) remain undefeated at home this season while the Continentals (4-4, 2-3 NESCAC) see their two-game NESCAC winning streak come to an end.
 
It was a ravenous start for the Cardinals, who poured in 10 unanswered goals, chasing Hamilton's 2022 All-American goalkeeper Seamus Fagan who didn't record a save while allowing all 10 goals in the first 14:10 of play. The Continentals went on to outscore the Cardinals 11-9 following the first quarter, but the damage was done, and Wesleyan improved to 4-0 at home in 2022 while keeping pace in a very competitive upper half of the league standings.
 
Wesleyan's midfield piled on the points, with CK Giancola '24 leading the way with a career-high six goals, adding one assist to match his career-high with seven points. DJ Dixon '24 finished with six points (four goals, two assists) as he recorded his fifth straight multi-goal game. Pat Doherty '23 completed a sensational day for the Cardinals' top midfield unit as he recorded a career-high four assists.
 
Playing the best game of his Cardinal career was Jack Raba '23, who tallied a new career-high with seven points as he scored twice and dished out a career-high five assists.
 
In net, Drew Skibniewski '23 got the starting nod for the first time in his career and he rose to the occasion with 11 saves against nine goals allowed while he added three ground balls and one caused turnovers in 55:08 minutes of play. He now has two wins in his last two appearances, both of which he tallied double-digit saves (career-high 13 against Coast Guard on March 22).
 
Everything went Wesleyan's way in the first quarter, as the Cardinals dominated possession and finished their chances as goals were scored on all 10 of their shots on-goal in the frame. Dixon scored twice in the first while Giancola completed his hat trick with 50 seconds to go in the quarter. Ben Burns '26 mixed in a man-up goal while Raba also scored twice.
 
Hamilton made a push in the second quarter, scoring four of the next six goals to cut the deficit to 12-4 with 5:19 left in the quarter. However, two Dixon goals including one with 13 seconds left, increased the Cardinal lead back up to 10 at the half.
 
Wesleyan scored three unanswered goals to open the second half, with Doherty finding Giancola for back-to-back goals just 43 seconds apart before Matt Gill '23 found the back of the net to give the Cardinals their biggest lead of the game at 17-4.
 
Hamilton did manage to outscore Wesleyan 4-1 in the fourth, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Cardinals finished off a 19-11 victory.
 
Kevin Talbot '24 went 8-for-13 with five ground balls at the X while Tyler Campbell '25 won on seven of his 13 opportunities. Nolan Collins '23 continued to lead the defense, recording three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Charlie Silver '25 added two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
A big week looms for the Cardinals who head on the road for a pair of crucial NESCAC games, starting with Amherst on Wednesday at 6 PM before traveling to take on Middlebury on Saturday at 1 PM.