MEDFORD, Mass. – Hamilton College's
Jesse Delinsky '26 scored with 1:07 left in the first sudden-victory overtime period and the Continentals celebrated a 14-13 win against the Tufts University Jumbos in a 2024 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship quarterfinal at Tufts' Bello Field on Saturday, April 27.
Season Update
- Hamilton (9-6 overall), which won its third straight game, is the eighth seed for the championship. The Continentals advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since they joined the NESCAC for lacrosse in 2012.
- The third-ranked Jumbos (13-3) are the No. 1 seed for the championship. Tufts defeated Hamilton 19-12 at Stevenson University's Mustang Classic in Owings Mills, Md., on March 15. The Jumbos will await a possible NCAA championship at-large bid on May 5 when the selections are announced.
How It Happened
- Following a timeout by the Continentals with 1:52 remaining in overtime, Justin Pearl '25 took a shot from deep on the left wing that hit the outside of the net and rolled behind the goal. Several players pursued the loose ball as 13 seconds ticked off the clock. A Tufts player finally emerged from the pile with the ball and started upfield. He tried to flip it ahead to a teammate but Christian Byrne '24 jumped back into the play and deflected the pass.
- Byrne picked up the loose ball in Hamilton's offensive zone, eluded a defender and tossed an underhand pass to Delinsky, who was all alone about 10 yards from the goal. He spun completely around as the Jumbos closed in on him and scored on a straight-on shot from about 10 feet out as three Tufts players knocked him to the turf. A wild celebration ensued as the entire Continental bench rushed the field.
- The Jumbos scored the first goal but Hamilton ran off the next six in the first quarter.
- John McKinnon '27 made it 7-1 just 20 seconds into the second quarter.
- The Continentals took their largest lead of seven goals at 10-3 with 7:02 to go in the second when Frank Coyle '26 found the back of the net. Hamilton led 10-5 at the half.
- Tufts slowly chipped away at the Continentals' advantage but Hamilton still led 12-9 after three quarters. The Jumbos opened the fourth quarter with three straight goals and tied the score for the first time since midway through the first quarter.
- Pearl put the Continentals back in front with 4:31 left. Byrne passed to Pearl on the left wing from the top of the zone and Pearl took a couple steps forward before he buried a shot in the back of the net.
- Tufts' Garrett Kelly scored with 36.8 seconds remaining and sent the game to overtime.
Notes
- Pearl finished with a career-high five goals and is second on the team with 27.
- Delinsky ended up with four goals and five points. He has nine goals and two assists in the last two games.
- Byrne tied a career best with four assists and is eighth in the NESCAC in assists per game. He has 23 helpers this season and 12 points in the last three games.
- Coyle scored twice and is second on the team with 35 points (24 goals, 11 assists).
- Thomas Healy '26 registered his 33rd goal and 50th point – both team highs.
- Charlie Rooney '27 recorded his fourth goal and McKinnon tallied his second.
- Wyatt Estepp '27 was credited with an assist for his first point this month.
- Jack Fried '25 came up big with 18 saves including seven in the fourth quarter.
- Reece Hickey '26 won 9 of 18 faceoffs and scooped up five ground balls.
- Peter Canterino '26 led the defense with two caused turnovers.
- Max Ettinghausen and Jack Regnery paced the Jumbos' offense with three goals and an assist apiece.
- Victor Salcedo won 16 of 23 faceoffs and picked up 11 ground balls. Joey Waldbaum caused three turnovers and Connor Garzone stopped 12 shots.
- Tufts took 70 shots and won 19 of 31 faceoffs, but didn't score on three extra-man opportunities.
- Hamilton defeated the Jumbos for the first time since 2013.
Next Game
The Continentals play the No. 2 seed Wesleyan University in a NESCAC semifinal at Wesleyan on Saturday, May 4. Game time will either be noon or 3 p.m.
