MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's lacrosse team dropped a 19-13 decision against No. 12 Wesleyan University on Wednesday afternoon in its NESCAC finale at Jackson Field.

Wesleyan (12-3 overall) improved to 8-2 in league play and can finish no worse than tied for first in the regular season standings. Ben Burns led the Cardinals with four goals and an assist on the day.

Aidan McAvoy (Charlotte, N.C.) was the catalyst for Conn's offense, finishing with a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. Liam Horkan (Malden, Mass.), Bobby Chang (South Salem, N.Y.), and Isaiah Kozub (Wilbraham, Mass.) all contributed two goals apiece, and Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) recorded 12 saves in goal.

The two teams traded scores in the opening quarter, with the Camels answering the bell multiple times to hang close. Tallies by Jack Gurney (Grafton, Mass.) and McAvoy tied the game at 2-2, and a second goal by McAvoy later knotted the score at 3-3. After the Cardinals scored twice, McAvoy completed the hat trick with 38 seconds left in the period, and a score by Horkan in the opening minute of the second evened the score at 5-5.

Despite the early offensive output, Conn couldn't keep pace with Wesleyan the rest of the half. The Cardinals outscored the Camels 7-1 over the final 13:02 of the stanza and led 12-6 at intermission.

Wesleyan padded the lead in the second half, building the margin to 18-8 early in the fourth quarter. Conn countered with a late flurry—netting five of the final six goals—but couldn't make up the difference.

Aidan Gaudet (Cheshire, Conn.) led all players with three caused turnovers and eight ground balls, and Cooper Growney (New Canaan, Conn.) and Myles Newport (Oakville, Ontario) each caused a pair of turnovers. 

Conn (4-9 overall, 1-9 NESCAC) will wrap up the regular season against Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:00 p.m.