Middlebury Wins Fourth-Straight Men's Lacrosse Championship

Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury won its fourth straight NESCAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship as they defeated Wesleyan 12-7 on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers will make their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance when the selections are announced on Sunday night.

Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead just 2:23 into the game as Jordan Funt found Ian Applegate with a great feed for the quick-stick goal. Middlebury answered with two in a 1:28 span late in the quarter, including a man-up goal from Mark Foster on their first tally of the game. The Cardinals made it a one-goal game just 53 seconds into the second quarter as Glenn Adams circled the net before beating Middlebury goalkeeper Eric Krieger. Wesleyan would not score for the remainder of the quarter as Middlebury scored three goals to take a 5-2 lead into the halftime break. Saraceni scored two of the three goals, including a man-up tally with 1:30 left in the half.

A goal from Andrew Giordano was answered by Funt to make it a 6-3 game early in the third quarter. Saraceni netted his third of the game, while Travis Meyer found the back of the net at 3:17 to give Middlebury an 8-3 lead at the end of three. Middlebury held a 10-5 lead with 9:52 left in the game before scoring a pair to hold a 12-5 advantage with just 3:54 left to play. Wesleyan’s Mike Vitulano scored two late goals to make it a 12-7 final.

Saraceni led the Panthers with four goals and three assists, while Foster, Meyer and Charley Howe each netted a pair. Applegate and Vitulano each scored two for Wesleyan. Krieger made seven stops for Middlebury, while Matt Wheeler made a dozen saves for Wesleyan.

2004 NESCAC MEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, May 2 at Higher Seeds
at No. 2 Tufts 9, No. 7 Connecticut College 7
at No. 3 Wesleyan 8, No. 6 Trinity 7
at No. 4 Amherst 6, No. 5 Bowdoin 5

Semifinals - Saturday, May 8 at Middlebury
at No. 1 Middlebury 7, No. 4 Amherst 2
No. 3 Wesleyan 10, vs. No. 2 Tufts 9

Championship - Sunday, May 9 at Middlebury
at No. 1 Middlebury 12, No. 3 Wesleyan 7