Williams game postponed; Men's Lacrosse prepares for Middlebury

On Saturday the men's lacrosse team traveled three hours to Williamstown, only to turn around and come back.

Wintry weather and a soggy field at Williams College forced officials to postpone the contest -- which would have been the team's third NESCAC game of the season -- to an undetermined date later this season.

While the postponement gave the Jumbos a weekend off in a busy spring season, it will also leave them a week removed from their last game when they take on the Middlebury Panthers at home on Wednesday.

"I think either way we would have been fine," senior tri-captain Alex Kerwin said. "We were ready to play, and it was disappointing to drive all the way out there, wait two hours, and then come back. But it's nice to have a break."

No date has been set for the makeup, but the team already has a game scheduled for every Saturday and every Wednesday until the NESCAC playoffs start on Sunday Apr. 27.

"I think we definitely would have rather played the game," said sophomore and leading goal scorer Bryan Griffin. "It would have kept more continuity to the season, playing every Wednesday and Saturday. Now we have to move the game, and maybe play two days back to back."

Williams, currently 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the NESCAC with wins over Bates and Colby, would likely have been the Jumbos toughest test so far this season. But now the team shifts its focus to Middlebury and what is certain to be its biggest challenge to date.

Middlebury enters the game as the defending national champions, with a ranking of sixth in the nation in the latest LaxPower.com College Coaches-Computer Rating. Tufts is ranked 24th on that same list.

The Panthers are 6-1 on the season, with their only loss coming in an away game against perennial powerhouse Gettysburg, 7-6. They have not allowed more than eight goals in any game, and have scored an average of 13.6 goals per game, including a 22-goal outburst against Union.

Despite Middlebury's daunting resume, the Jumbos say that they are not intimidated.

"We're not treating them any differently than we treat anybody else," Griffin said. "We're preparing the same exact way."

The Jumbos too have put together an impressive season thus far with a 5-1 record, 2-0 in the NESCAC. Though they have struggled somewhat with fundamentals including ground balls and clears, the Jumbos have held their two opponents, Trinity and Bowdoin, to five goals apiece.

"Our defense has been unbelievable," Griffin said. "The zone defense has really helped a lot. It makes the time of possession a little lopsided, but anytime you hold two NESCAC teams to five goals, that's impressive."

The defense, anchored by senior tri-captains Dave Richman and Mike Morley, has only allowed more than eight goals in one game, in an 18-10 loss to Eastern Connecticut. And with sophomore goalie Luke Chicco stopping 71.7 percent of the shots that get through, it is reasonable to believe that the Jumbos can contain Middlebury's attack.

Tufts' attack has also been strong, despite somewhat low-scoring games against Trinity and Bowdoin. Sophomore David Taylor leads the team with 24 total points, while Griffin is second with 22, but leads the team with 17 goals. After 20 points in his first four games, Griffin's production has slowed, with only two points in the last two contests.

"I've had a lot of opportunities, I just haven't finished them all," Griffin said. "But as long as we're winning I don't even care."

Both the defense and offense will have their hands full against Middlebury. Tufts has not beat Middlebury since the Jumbos joined the NESCAC in 2001, and lost last season 17-6 in Vermont.

Though they are treating the game as they would any other, the players are certainly aware of whom they are playing.

"Yeah it's a regular season game, and I think that we would all like to beat them in the postseason more than anything," Kerwin said. "But I think if we were to win this game, it would be huge for this team and this program."