Connecticut College Sports Roundup

Connecticut College picked up a trio of victories over Wesleyan University on Wednesday, earning wins in lacrosse and tennis matches. The following information was provided by William Tomasian, sports information director at Connecticut College:

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Men's Lacrosse: Conn College 10, Wesleyan 4

Using a 5-0 burst over a 10-minute span to take the lead for good, then adding a 4-0 run in the fourth quarter to cement the victory, visiting Connecticut College (9-5, 6-4 NESCAC) blew past homestanding Wesleyan University (9-5, 5-5 NESCAC) in the final regular-season game for both teams here today, 10-4.

As a result, Connecticut College earned a first-round NESCAC tournament home game on Sat., April 28 and will take on Colby College, which defeated Bates in its regular-season finale, 5-3. Wesleyan draws Bowdoin College in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs as the teams will play in Brunswick, Maine Saturday. When the Cardinals and Polar Bears met during the season, Bowdoin won, 7-5. Connecticut College beat Colby during the season in four overtimes, 8-7.

Junior John Lyons and senior Chuck Czerkawski were integral forces for the Camels in their triumph over Wesleyan. Lyons, the top scorer for Connecticut College, finished the game with two goals and three assists for five points, bringing his seasonal total to 40 on 26 goals and 14 assists. He had two goals and two assists during the Camels' 5-0 run from the 9:34 mark of the first period to the 14:35 mark of the second. After opening the Camels scoring to cut into Wesleyan's early 2-0 edge, Lyons assisted n the next two by juniors Steve Eicher and Andrew Freedman, which put Connecticut College ahead for good, 3-2, at 2:18 of the first quarter. An unassisted goal by freshman Jack Griffin ended the first-period scoring at 1:24 and Lyons got the only goal of the second quarter just 25 seconds in on a high shot for a 5-2 Camel lead.

Czerkawski was a demon on faceoffs for the Camels, winning 11 out of 17 for the game, including nine of his first 10, to help Connecticut College gain its first-half lead. He also finished with a game-high six ground balls.

Wesleyan got no closer than two goals in the second half, the last coming at 6-4 with 12:16 to go as senior DJ Bernatavitz connected for his second goal of the game, assisted by senior John Froats, who finished with three points on a pair of goals and an assist. Bernatavitz also had a pair of assists for a four-point afternoon. Froats took over Wesleyan's scoring leadership for the year, now with 29 points on 20 goals and nine assists.

Connecticut College added four goals in a stretch of just 4:44 in the final stanza with three last three all coming from freshman Briggs Barton for a natural hat trick in just 2:08. Freedman also left his mark during the run with a goal and two assists, giving him four points on the day and 31 for the year (18-13-31). Lyons polished off his scoring with an assist on Barton's second tally.

Playing all but the final minute of the game in net for Connecticut College, senior Rob Moccia collected eight saves while Cardinal senior keeper Grant Covington made 11 stops. Connecticut College had a 29-23 margin in total shots.

Wesleyan leads the overall series vs. Connecticut College by a 24-14 margin. This was just the second win for the Camels in the last eight meetings and their first win in Middletown since 1998.

Camel Tracks Not Including Wednesday's Game:

The cardiac Camels continued their torrid stretch of play, earning two more league wins last week. Tuesday afternoon, the Camels defeated Amherst 5-4 and Saturday they rallied from a 5-1 deficit to take down Bates in a 6-5 win. The Camels have won eight of their last 10 since starting the season 0-3 and have improved their record to 5-4 in the NESCAC with four consecutive one-goal victories.

Junior midfielder John Lyons had four goals and two assists in a perfect 2-0 week in NESCAC action for the Camels. With 24 goals and 11 assists, Lyons is ranked ninth in the conference with 35 points. JR Hartgers (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) has chipped in with 16 goals and 12 assists for a total of 28 points. Junior Andrew Freedman (Sudbury, Mass.) has accounted for 16 goals, 11 assists and 27 points.

Junior net-minder Rob Moccia (Malvern, Pa.) has stepped up his play in the past month to the All-NESCAC level he performed at during the team's NCAA run in 2010. Moccia is sixth in NESCAC goals against average (8.35 GAA) and save percentage (.571) and ranks fifth in the league with 11.08 saves per game.

Senior face-off midfielder Chuck Czerkawski (Cohasset, Mass.) has been terrific in the trenches and ranks third in NESCAC face-off percentage (.595, 163-for-274) and in ground balls (96). The starting defensive trio consisting of Clay Hillyer (South Windsor, Conn.-21 gbs), Brogan O'Connor (Haverhill, Mass.-18 gbs) and Mike Brennan (Chester Springs, Pa.-16 has been terrific.

Senior long stick midfielder Michael O'Donnell (Winchester, Mass.) continues to excel in riding and clearing situations and ranks second on the squad with 35 ground balls.

Women's Lacrosse: Conn College 10, Wesleyan 8

Sophomore Lowell Abbott (Manchester, Mass.) scored five of her six goals in the second half to lead the Connecticut College women's lacrosse team past NESCAC and intra-state rival Wesleyan in a 10-8 triumph on the Artificial Turf at Silfen Field. Abbott closes out the season with 45 goals and seven assists for a total of 52 points.

The Camels improve their record to 6-10 with a 2-8 mark in the NESCAC. It's the highest win total for the Camels in conference play since 2008. The Cardinals slipped to 6-10 with a 1-9 mark in conference action.

Junior Bri Miller (Sudbury, Mass.) chipped in with goal #29 and 30 of the season for the winning side. Katelyn Driscoll (Peabody, Mass.) scored her 34th of the season to go along with four ground balls and four draws.

Cecily Cushman (Marblehead, Mass.) registered a goal and an assist. Kelsey Burke (Atlanta, Ga.) was a huge difference in this contest, coming up with several stops from point-blank range en route to her nine save effort for the Camels.

"It's nice to send our four seniors off with a win and achieve our first two win season in NESCAC play since 2008," Connecticut College Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Liz Longley said. "

Wesleyan University juniors Kaylin Berger (Farmington, Conn.), Kayla Ellman (Montclair, N.J.) and Lydia Kring (Philadelphia, Pa.) all scored twice for the visitors. Liz Chabot (Rye, N.Y.) and Claire O'Brien (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) closed out their careers for the Cardinals with scores.

Senior net-minder Maggie Dormice (Glen Head, N.Y.) made 14 saves to go with three ground balls.

The Camels took a 4-2 lead in the opening half when Izzy Marx (Ridgewood, N.J.) assisted Cushman for a goal in the slot area with 4:57 remaining. The Cardinals responded though, scoring the final two goals of the half. Kring found the back of the net with a free position and Ellman scored the equalizer with 35.2 seconds remaining and the game was knotted up at four.

In the second half, Abbott and Burke stole the show for the home team. Abbott scored three of the team's first four goals of the stanza and pushed the lead to 8-5 when she finished on a feed from Cushman with 19:28 remaining.

The Cardinals pulled to within a goal when Kring scored her second of the day with 15:54 remaining

But with 10:55 remaining, Abbott scored a critical insurance goal to make it a 9-7 game. Drowica had made a terrific save on Bri Miller's initial scoring bid but Abbott was able to collect the rebound from the right side and put back the rebound.

On the ensuing Cardinal possession, Burke denied Kring with a point-blank stop to protect the two goal advantage.

Abbott added her sixth goal of the night with 8:57 left and the Camels were able to hold on for the 10-8 victory.

Men's Tennis: Conn College 6, Wesleyan 3

Jeremy Bader (Lexington, Mass.) won a super tie-breaker at #6 singles and teamed up with classmate Jeff Weisberger (Wayne, N.J.) for an 8-5 triumph at #2 doubles to lead the Connecticut College men's tennis team to a 6-3 NESCAC victory against Wesleyan University.

The Camels event their record at 8-8 and are 1-6 in league play. The Cardinals slipped to 13-6 with a 1-6 record in the NESCAC.

Joshua Suneby (Wellesley, Mass.) chipped in with a 6-4, 6-2 win at #2 singles. JC Cangelosi (Estero, Fla.) and Will Tucker (London, England) contributed victories in their respective slots at #3 and 5 singles.

Wesleyan University junior Jeff Legunn (Waccabuc, N.Y.) posted a 6-2, 6-3 win at #1 singles. Junior Donald Kleckner (Alpharetta, Ga.) registered a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at fourth singles for the Cardinals.

In doubles action, Connecticut College junior George King (Concord, Mass.) paired up with Cangelosi for a 9-7 win at first doubles.

Stephen Monk (New York, N.Y.) and Charlie Seifer (Holmdel, N.J.) salvaged a point at third doubles, prevailing in an 8-5 decision for the visiting Cardinals of Wesleyan.