MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Wesleyan University's CK Giancola scored four goals and added an assist in the Cardinals' 12-6 win against the Hamilton College Continentals in a 2024 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship semifinal at Wesleyan's Jackson Field on Saturday, May 4.
 

Season Update

• Nationally ranked No. 18 Hamilton (9-7 overall) was the eighth seed for the championship. The Continentals had won their previous three games.
• The 10^th-ranked Cardinals (14-3) are the second seed for the championship. Wesleyan, which is second in the NCAA Division III Region I rankings, has won six straight games. The Cardinals host the NESCAC final on Sunday, May 5 at noon.

 

How It Happened

• After more than eight minutes without a goal, Will Heher '25 gave Hamilton a 1-0 lead with 6:24 left in the first quarter when he scored after a pass from Frank Coyle '26.
• It turned out to be the Continentals' only lead as Wesleyan scored the next five goals.
• NESCAC and USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Player of the Week, Jesse Delinsky '26 ended Hamilton's scoring drought after 19-plus minutes on an unassisted goal with 1:58 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Cardinals led 2-1 after one quarter and 6-2 at the half.
• The Continentals didn't get closer than three goals in the second half. Wesleyan was up 9-4 at the end of the third quarter.

 

Notes

• Delinsky and Christian Byrne '24 scored two goals apiece for Hamilton.
• Delinsky has 11 goals in the last three games and 26 this year.
• Byrne posted his second multi-goal game this season and finished his career with 80 points on 38 goals and 42 assists.
• Heher notched his 27^th goal this year and his 40^th with the Continentals.
• Troy Pollock '25 chipped in a goal and three ground balls.
• Coyle dished out a career-high three assists.
• Thomas Healy '26 picked up an assist and led Hamilton with 51 points this season.
• Kyle Mannherz '24 topped the defense with a season-high three caused turnovers.
• Reece Hickey '26 won six faceoffs and scooped up three ground balls.
• NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Jack Fried '25 made 14 saves.
• The Continentals became the second No. 8 seed to win a quarterfinal in championship history on April 27 when they edged top-seeded Tufts University 14-13 in overtime.
• Hamilton was in the NESCAC semifinals for the first time since joining the conference for lacrosse in 2012.
• Ben Burns scored four goals for the Cardinals. Justin Hazard registered a team-high six points on a goal and five assists. Jackson Tinari (9-13) and Tyler Campbell (6-9) helped Wesleyan win 15 of 22 faceoffs. Conor Selfridge stopped seven shots.
• The Cardinals held a 22-7 shot advantage in the first half.
• All three penalties were called in the last 17 minutes. Wesleyan scored once on its two extra-man opportunities. The Continentals were 0-for-1.