BRUNSWICK, Maine – In a battle of two of the nation's top teams, the top-ranked Tufts University men's lacrosse prevailed in a 15-14 double-overtime decision over sixth-ranked Bowdoin at Whittier Field on Wednesday night. The Jumbos (15-0, 10-0 NESCAC) claim the top seed for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament while the Polar Bears fall to 12-2 (8-2 NESCAC) and earn the second seed in the final conference standings.
 
Game Highlights

• After Bowdoin's Patrick Fitzgerald scored the first two goals of the game, Tufts rolled off five straight to take a 5-2 lead early in the second quarter.
• The Polar Bears replied with a 5-1 run, capped by goals from Jed Hoggard and Casey Ryan, to claim a 7-6 edge with 3:54 remaining in the half.
• Tufts scored a pair of goals to reclaim the lead late in the period, but a buzzer-beating score by Jason Lach deadlocked the contest at 8-8 at intermission.
• After exchanging scores in the third frame, a 4-1 surge by the Polar Bears, including three scores from Fitzgerald and a tally by Huck Trafton with 13:24 to go in the fourth quarter opened up a 14-11 Bowdoin lead, their largest of the game.
• Tufts held Bowdoin scoreless for the remainder of the game, however, chipping away and scoring three times in the final 12:14.
• Neither team could find the game winner in regulation or the first overtime, but after winning the initial faceoff of the second OT, Tufts' Jack Regnery found Garrett Kelly for the game-winning score 17 seconds into the second extra frame.

By The Numbers

• Patrick Fitzgerald scored a game-high six goals while Casey Ryan scored a goal with four assists.
• Jason Lach added two goals and an assist for the Polar Bears.
• Jed Hoggard had a team-high three caused turnovers with four ground balls and a goal.
• Robert Hobbs made 15 saves in goal for Bowdoin.
• In an incredibly even-matched game the teams had 30 shots apiece and 33 ground balls each.
• Tufts had a 19-13 edge in faceoffs, but committed 17 turnovers to Bowdoin's 14.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will host Hamilton in the NESCAC Quarterfinal round on Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m.