MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's lacrosse team fell to No. 16 Wesleyan by an 11-9 score on Wednesday evening at Citrin Field.

In a game that was scheduled as a spur-of-the-moment decision between athletic departments earlier today, Wesleyan (3-1, NESCAC 2-0) jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 4-1 to establish control in the beginning. However, sophomore Justin Boes (Marblehead, Mass.) found the back of the net for the Camels with 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter to spark a comeback.

After Tom Martello scored his second goal of the game just 45 seconds into the third to make it 5-2 in favor of the Cardinals, Connecticut College stormed back and responded with five unanswered goals with balanced scoring. Beginning with a strike by senior Sean Smith (Pasadena, Calif.) at 12:17, the Camels had five different players find the back of the net and found themselves leading 7-5 following another tally by Boes with 7:37 left in the second.

Wesleyan, however, capitalized on a delay of game penalty by the Camels and scored on a man-up opportunity to get back in the game. The hosts tied the game heading into halftime at 7-7 on a Matt Chase goal and regained the lead by getting two more goals from Martello which capped a 4-0 run. The Camels, however, struck right back with two goals before the end of the frame, and the teams headed to the final quarter knotted at 9-9.

The Cardinals scored a go-ahead goal with 10:11 remaining in the fourth, but the visitors had their chances to answer before the end of regulation. Connecticut College had a golden opportunity to tie the game for a third time when two players were whistled off the field, including starting goalie Otto Bohan, but the team was unable to respond.

Senior Jack Rutter (Madison, N.J.) had the best chance to net the equalizer when he faked out defender Colin Malarchuk and rocketed a low shot that was saved by backup netminder Colin Hanley. Matt Chase then fired home a shot at the other end with 3:21 left which would prove to be the dagger and provide the hosts insurance to escape with the win.

Martello led Wesleyan offensively with four goals and one assist, while Ronan Jacoby netted a hat trick and Pat Doherty finished with a goal and two helpers. Malarchuk highlighted the defensive effort with four caused turnovers to go along with four ground balls, and Bohan picked up the win between the posts with 12 saves in more than 52 minutes of action.

Rutter and Smith paced Connecticut College with two goals and one assist apiece, while Smith also scooped up three ground balls. Junior Toby Almeida (Cumberland, R.I.) helped keep the Camels in the game by winning 15 faceoffs and picking up 10 ground balls to gain extra possessions for the team. Classmate Billy Dreyer (Columbia, S.C.) was charged with the loss in the cage after making one save during the second half in relief.

Connecticut College (1-2, NESCAC 0-2) will conclude its 2020 campaign at home when it hosts Hamilton on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The program is also planning to recognize its 14 seniors prior to the contest.