MEDFORD, MASS. – The nationally fifth-ranked Tufts men's lacrosse team built a 10-4 lead early into the fourth quarter, then held off a furious rally by fourth-ranked Cortland to earn a 10-9 win Wednesday afternoon in the NCAA Div. III Quarterfinals. The defending national champion Jumbos, who defeated Cortland by the same score in the 2010 semifinals, improved to 17-2, while the Red Dragons' season ended at 16-3 with a tie for fifth nationally.

Seniors Chris DeLuca (Sayville) and Jay DiStefano (Huntington/Harborfields) led the Cortland offense with three goals and one assist each. DeLuca became the 21st player in school history to surpass 100 career goals with his effort, finishing his four years with 102. Junior Mike Tota (Webster/Webster Schroeder) scored twice, junior Greg Wright (Irondequoit/West Irondequoit) had one goal and one assist and senior Neal Hopps (Akwesasne/Massena) recorded two assists.

Sophomore Sean Davern (Irondequoit) and freshmen Joe Slavik (Binghamton/Seton Catholic) and Brian Winterfeldt (Merrick/Calhoun) chipped in with one assist apiece. Freshman goalie Scott Tota (Webster/Webster Schroeder) made seven saves in 45 minutes, 24 seconds before giving way to sophomore Mike Kaminski (Sayville), who stopped one shot and did not allow a goal in the final 14:36.

Ryan Molloy paced the Jumbos' offense with three goals and one assist. Kevin McCormick contributed two goals and two assists, Sean Kirwan and Matt Witko each scored twice and Geordie Schafer picked up a goal. D.J. Hessler registered a game-high four assists, and Jordan Korinis added an assist. Patton Watkins turned aside 15 shots in goal.

The Red Dragons opened up a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter as Tota scored at 5:17 and DiStefano notched his first of the game just six seconds later off DeLuca's feed after he won the ensuing faceoff. Witko and Molloy scored less than three minutes apart early in the second quarter to knot the game up at 2-2. Tota's 40th goal of the season at 8:30 gave Cortland's its last lead of the game at 3-2, before the Jumbos closed the half with four straight scores, including two from Molloy, for a 6-3 lead.

Tufts pushed its advantage to 9-4 by outscoring Cortland, 3-1, in the third quarter. Witko and Wright traded goals, and Kirwan and McCormick each scored inside of two minutes for the five-goal edge. After McCormick scored 24 seconds into the fourth quarter to chase Tota, the Jumbos seemed to be in command with a 10-4 lead.

Cortland, however, began chipping away led by DeLuca. He scored his first of the game 29 seconds after McCormick's goal, pulled Cortland to within 10-6 just 26 seconds after that off an assist from Hopps and netted his third in a row, again with Hopps assisting, at the 7:38 mark. DiStefano then went to work, trimming the lead to 10-8 off Wright's assist at 5:52 and bringing the Red Dragons to within 10-9 with his third of the game with 1:23 left in regulation. Cortland gained possession as senior Justin Battino (Plainedge) won the final faceoff of the contest and called timeout with 42 seconds remaining. Tota had Corrtland's last opportunity to send the game into overtime, but Watkins made a save on the shot with 10 seconds remaining and fired the ball the length of the field to clinch the victory.    

Tufts 10, Cortland 9

GAME SUMMARY:

Team                        1-2-3-4        Final
Cortland (16-3)       2-1-1-5            9
Tufts (17-2)              0-6-3-1          10

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Chris DeLuca 3-1, Jay DiStefano 3-1, Mike Tota 2-0, Greg Wright 1-1, Neal Hopps 0-2, Sean Davern 0-1, Joe Slavik 0-1, Brian Winterfeldt 0-1 
Tufts: Ryan Molloy 3-1, Kevin McCormick 2-2, Sean Kirwan 2-0, Matt Witko 2-0, Geordie Schafer 1-0, D.J. Hessler 0-4, Jordan Korinis 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Cortland: Scott Tota, 7 saves (10 GA in 45:24), Mike Kaminski, 1 save (0 GA in 14:36)
Tufts: Patton Watkins, 15 saves (9 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 41, Tufts 39 
Ground Balls: Cortland 33, Tufts 24
Turnovers: Tufts 20, Cortland 14
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 7, Tufts 2
Clears: Cortland 17-of-18, Tufts 14-of-19 
Faceoffs Won: Tufts 12, Cortland 11
Penalties: Tufts 2-1:00, Cortland 1-1:00
Extra-Man Offense: Tufts 1-1, Cortland 0-1