Hamilton College's Ben Gardner '21 recorded three goals and four assists in the Continentals' 13-7 NESCAC loss against the nationally ranked No. 16 Wesleyan University Cardinals at Hamilton's Withiam Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Continentals outshot the Cardinals 48-43, won 17 of 23 faceoffs and picked up 38 ground balls compared to Wesleyan's 25.

Gardner scored the first three goals unassisted in the first quarter but Wesleyan also scored three in the first to tie the score. The Cardinals scored five unanswered goals in the second quarter and headed into halftime up 8-3.

Both teams scored two goals in the third quarter and the Cardinals led 10-5 heading into the final quarter. Britt Defeo '22 scored a man-up goal at the 6:27 mark and Nathanial Field '24 added another man-up goal two minutes later.

Tim Murray '24 scored a third man-up goal for Hamilton 54 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Wesleyan restored its five-goal lead at the 10:53 mark. Zach Perotto '24 recorded Hamilton's seventh goal with 8:54 left. The Cardinals scored twice more in the final three minutes to account for the final margin.

Quin Crowley '22 won 17 of 23 faceoffs and picked up a team-high 10 ground balls. Carter Hampson '24 scooped up four ground balls and Christian Byrne '24 caused four turnovers. Max Scheidl '21 recorded 20 saves including seven in the opening 15 minutes.

Hamilton is back home on Saturday, April 17 against Williams College at Withiam Field.