CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's Maddux Little '27 scored with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter and lifted the Continentals to an 8-7 NESCAC win against the Middlebury College Panthers at Hamilton's Withiam Field on Wednesday, April 1.
 

Season Update

• The Continentals (6-4, 3-3 NESCAC), who are receiving votes in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III Top 20 poll, recorded their first victory against a ranked opponent this season. Hamilton has won six of its last seven overall.
• Nationally ranked No. 14 Middlebury (5-4, 3-3) was coming off a 17-7 loss against Tufts University on March 28.

 

How It Happened

• Jesse Delinsky '26 received a pass from behind the goal by Thomas Healy '26 and faked a shot from the right side. Delinsky noticed Little unmarked in the middle only about 15 feet from the crease. Little caught the ball, turned to his right and shot all in one motion.
• The Panthers had a great chance to tie the score after the Continentals were forced to play a man down due to an offsides call – their first penalty of the game -- with 19 seconds remaining. Will Leahy had a great look on a catch-and-shoot opportunity from close range, but his shot sailed just wide to the right of the goal with 4.5 seconds to go, and Middlebury didn't have enough time to get set up again in front of the net.
• There were five lead changes and neither team led by more than two goals in this tense conference clash. Little tied the score at 6-6 on a quick shot from a short distance on the right side with 4:32 left in the third quarter after a nice pass from Finn Vaccaro '29. Logan White put the Panthers back up by a goal with 2:09 remaining in the third.
• Hamilton held Middlebury scoreless for the final 17 minutes. Carson Kraus '28 drew the Continentals even again with 7:04 to go in the fourth on a great individual move. Kraus started with the ball on the left side near the edge of the attack area, made an aggressive cut into the middle of the zone, and scored on a diving shot from just outside the crease.
• The Panthers took a 1-0 lead less than 90 seconds into the first quarter, but Hamilton led 2-1 after the first 15 minutes thanks to goals by Healy and Frank Coyle '26.
• Middlebury grabbed a 4-2 advantage with three goals early in the second quarter before the Continentals tied it on tallies by Little and Kraus 25 seconds apart late in the quarter. The teams went into the break deadlocked at 4-4.
• Kraus put Hamilton back in front 2:11 into the third quarter on a move that started a few feet outside the attack area. He drove down the middle of the zone and released a shot from about 30 feet away for the goal. The Panthers scored the next two goals and held a 6-5 edge with 6:16 left.

 

Notes

• The Continentals have won the last three meetings with Middlebury on their home turf.
• Little tied a season high with the three goals.
• Kraus also matched a season best with three goals and leads the team with 16 along with 25 points.
• Jack Williams '28 made 13 saves, his fourth consecutive game with 10 or more.
• Coyle scored his 53^rd career goal and recorded his 91^st point.
• Healy has 112 goals and 154 points for his Hamilton career.
• Vaccaro leads the team with 14 assists.
• Defensive midfielder John McKinnon '27 collected his third career helper.
• Reece Hickey '26 won five faceoffs and scooped up five ground balls.
• Ged Gengras paced the Middlebury offense with three goals. Noah Filippelli won 13-of-18 faceoffs and picked up eight ground balls.
• The Continentals' ride forced seven unsuccessful clears by the Panthers.

 

Next Game

Hamilton hosts Bates College (7-3, 3-3) for another conference contest on Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m.