MIDDLETOWN, CT.  – In a sendoff for the Class of 2024, the Wesleyan men's lacrosse team handed No. 12 Bowdoin College their first NESCAC loss of the season in a 16-12 run down that saw DJ Dixon '24 and CK Giancola '24 tally four goals, each with a hattrick in the first half.

While the weather started poorly, forcing a venue switch, the skies opened just as Senior Day announcements began to celebrate the men's lacrosse (11-3 overall, 7-2 NESCAC) class of 2024 prior to their NESCAC matchup against the Polar Bears (10-3 overall, 8-1 NESCAC). The Polar Bears entered the game undefeated in the NESCAC at 8-0, but DJ Dixon set the tempo early, forcing three goals in less than two minutes to open the competition.

James Bailey '26 from the restraining line found Dixon out right, allowing Dixon to cover the top of the unit before skirting down the middle with a heavy shot over the shoulder of Bears goalie Robert Hobbs for his second goal on just his second shot of the game for the Cardinals for the 2-0 lead.

Alex Moynihan '24 made it a four-goal game after Jack Raba '23 gained possession at X, dodging the defense at the left post before making the pass to Moynihan for the low shot on goal. The Polar Bears scored their first of the game a minute later thanks to Jason Lach. Lach and Casey Ryan would score two more to bring the game within one goal before Justin Hazard '23 put a quick stop to the momentum with his first of the game.

Tearing up the end of the first quarter was Giancola with two goals, the second coming as Raba regained possession for the Cardinals and sent the pass back to Giancola at behind the net as Giancola made the wraparound attempt and shoveled the ball into the left corner.

It was Giancola again who opened the scoring of the second quarter with his third-straight goal before the Polar Bears would see three in a row from Will Byrne.

Closing out the first half was Raba, holding possession for over 40 seconds as he squirreled around the Bears' defense until he caught Hobbs off his mark and hammered the ball into the right corner.

The Cardinals washed the third quarter with six goals from Giancola, Hazard, Dixon, Ben Burns '26, and Bailey. Burns' goal at 7:51 was on a man-up opportunity for the Cardinals. Bailey was goal number 16 for the Cardinals while the Bears managed another five goals to close out the game, but could not catch the Cardinals offense, falling with a four-goal deficit.

Both teams were near equal from the field as the Bears outshot the Cardinals 43-41. Both teams were guilty of 13 turnovers with the Cardinals winning the ground ball matchup by just one. The Bears' Ethan Barnard was the difference maker from the faceoff, helping to a 19-13 advantage.

Raba (one goal, four assists), Dixon, and Giancola put up five points, Dixon and Giancola settling with four goals and an assist. Bailey finished with four points, (two goals, two assists) while Hazard came away with three goals.

Burns finished the afternoon with four ground balls and two caused turnovers as face-off specialist Tyler Campbell '25 led the ground ball charge with five of his own.

Campbell went 7-15 off the draw as Conor Selfridge '26 made 12 saves in goal to Hobbs' nine saves.

The Cardinals return to the field on Wednesday, April 24, when they host Conn. College in the regular season finale beginning at 4:30 p.m. from Jackson Field.