MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Despite leading by four at the end of the first quarter, the No. 15 ranked Wesleyan men's lacrosse team saw Trinity score eight times in the second quarter, eventually leading by as many as four before holding off the Cardinals for a 16-15 win from Citrin Field on Wednesday night. Wesleyan (7-4, 4-3 NESCAC) has lost consecutive NESCAC games while the Bantams (6-6, 3-4 NESCAC) earn their first win over the Cardinals since 2011.
 
All was well with the Cardinals after one, with all the stats sawing in favor of Wesleyan including the most important, a 5-1 lead. Sam Jean '23 netted consecutive goals just 33 seconds apart to answer a goal from Trinity's Andrew Bailey in the later stages of the frame. Drew Skibniewski '23 was at his best, recording nine saves with just one goal allowed in the opening quarter.
 
The script completely flipped, however, in the second where the Bantams outscored the Cardinals 8-3 and turned a four-goal deficit into a one-goal lead at the halftime break. Trinity outshot Wesleyan 19-6 and forced six Cardinal turnovers in the frame, which helped turn the tide for the visitors who hadn't scored more than 14 goals against Wesleyan since 1987 prior to tonight.
 
Goals were at a premium in the third quarter, as nearly nine minutes of clock wound without a goal scored before DJ Dixon '24 fired in a game-tying goal with 2:42 left in the frame. However, just as it seemed Wesleyan found their footing, the Bantams scored twice in the final minute as Jon Krikorian scored with 47 seconds left and the back-breaker came from Ryan Werner with eight seconds remaining to make it 12-10 Trinity after three.
 
The Bantams continued to apply the pressure, not allowing the Cardinals to get to within one goal of the lead before ultimately Trinity took their largest lead of the game at 16-12 with 3:34 left.
 
Wesleyan was gifted a couple of man-up opportunities in the final minutes, with Ben Burns '26 scoring on both EMO chances. But with just five seconds remaining, even after Tyler Campbell '25 won the faceoff, the Cardinals didn't have a chance to get a shot off before the final horn sounded on a Bantam victory.
 
Leading the Cardinal offense was Dixon who finished with three goals and two assists for five points as he leads the team with 44 points (29 goals, 15 assists) this season. Dixon has 5+ points in four straight games. GK Ciancola '24 added two goals and three assists for five points as he leads the Cardinals with 31 goals this season.
 
Jack Raba '23 (four assists) and Matt Gill '23 (two goals, two assists) each totaled four points while Justin Hazard '23 finished with a hat trick. Nolan Collins '23 recorded a season-high seven ground balls to go along with three caused turnovers. Jared Cohen '25 added four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 
Leading the Bantams was Andrew Bailey who finished with four goals, one assist and six ground balls. Ryan Werner added two goals and three assists while Harrison Ike had two goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Cooper Yaccino recorded 16 saves including six in the fourth quarter alone.
 
Wesleyan looks to regroup on Saturday at home against No. 1 Tufts from Jackson Field at 1:00 PM.