MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Hamilton College's Thomas Healy '26 scored with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter and lifted the Continentals to a thrilling 10-9 win against the Wesleyan University Cardinals in a 2026 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship quarterfinal at Wesleyan's Citrin Field on Saturday afternoon, April 25.
 

Season Update

• Hamilton (9-6 overall), which was seeded sixth for the championship, improved its record away from home to 7-2. The Continentals are receiving votes for the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III Top 20 poll.
• The No. 6-ranked Cardinals (11-4) had won six of their previous seven games. Wesleyan was seeded third for the championship.

 

How It Happened

• Hamilton called a timeout with 1:06 remaining and Healy held the ball for several seconds coming out of the break. The Continentals eventually worked the ball around behind the goal and Frank Coyle '26 passed to Healy on the right wing. Healy ran a few steps to his left and whipped a left-handed shot that bounced into the back of the net from about 15 yards out.
• The Cardinals won the ensuing faceoff and was able to get off a shot with one second to go, but the ball sailed over the crossbar and time ran out.
• Wesleyan took its only lead at 4-3 on a goal by Ben Burns with 6:22 left in the first quarter. Hamilton scored the next four goals and led for most of the last three quarters.
• Coyle tied the scored with 4:21 remaining in the first. He received a pass from Maddux Little '27 a little left of center, turned and unleashed a shot from about 10 yards away.
• Coyle found Healy for a 5-4 edge with just five seconds to go in the quarter. Coyle passed from the edge of the attacking zone to Healy, who was cutting to the middle from the goal line, and he scored on a shot in traffic from about 20 feet out.
• Healy scored again 53 seconds into the second quarter on a shot from the right wing after he received a short pass from Carson Kraus '28. Kraus made it 7-4 with 12:33 left in the second. He received the ball in the midfield, ran into the offensive zone and scored on a long shot from straight on.
• The Cardinals scored the next two goals and trailed 7-6 at the half.
• Little scored the only two goals in the third period. The first came 34 seconds into the third when he received a pass from Jesse Delinsky '26, wheeled and fired an overhand shot from the left wing. Little restored the Continentals' three-goal advantage with 8:37 remaining. Finn Vaccaro '29 passed to Little from behind the goal and he scored from just outside the crease near the right post.
• Hamilton held Wesleyan scoreless for about 23 minutes. Will Miller ended the drought with 8:11 to go in the fourth and added the next two goals, including the one that drew the Cardinals even at 9-9 with 1:42 left.

 

Notes

• The Continentals posted their first victory against Wesleyan after the Cardinals had won the first 16 meetings dating back to 2007.
• Hamilton advanced to the conference semifinals for the second time in three years after also making it in 2024.
• Kraus finished with three goals, an assist and two caused turnovers. He leads the team with 37 goals and 48 points.
• Healy scored three goals for the third straight game. He has 123 career goals and 171 points.
• Little's three-point performance (2 goals, assist) gave him eight in the last three games.
• Coyle also chipped in two goals and a helper and sits at 99 career points.
• Delinsky registered a trio of assists and has 12 in the last five contests.
• Vaccaro picked up his team-leading 16^th assist.
• Kieran Hughes '28 had an assist for his first collegiate point and added three ground balls.
• Jack Williams '28 made nine saves for the Continentals.
• Andrew Higgins '28 won 10-of-20 faceoffs and scooped up a team-high four ground balls.
• PJ Flood '27 contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Miller paced the Wesleyan offense with four goals and an assist. Lucca Casagrande caused four turnovers.

 

Next Game

Hamilton travels to Bowdoin College (15-0) for a NESCAC championship semifinal on Saturday, May 2.