Men's Lacrosse (6-6, 6-1) Clinches Second in Tournament, Extends Winning Streak to Six

The Wheaton College men's lacrosse team went 2-0 on the road last week, clinching the second seed in the upcoming Pilgrim League Tournament. The Lyons knocked off Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 9-7 on Wednesday night before holding on for a 12-11 victory at Babson College on Sunday. Since an 0-6 start, Wheaton has won six straight, matching the program's longest winning streak since 1996 to come within one triumph of the school record. After not qualifying for the Pilgrim League Tournament each year between 1999 and 2005, the Lyons have now earned a tournament berth for the third time in the past four seasons. Wheaton takes on third-seeded MIT in a semifinal on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to Sunday's final for an opportunity to earn the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Lyons seek a championship game appearance for the second straight year and for the third time in program history, as well as qualification for their initial national tournament.

At MIT, Wheaton overcame a one-goal, third-quarter hole with a 4-0 run that stretched into the fourth period. Sophomore Ben Cederberg (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) turned in three goals and an assist, senior Jeff Gomer (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) had two goals and went 8-for-10 on face-offs, while junior Drew Schaffer (New Haven, CT/Loomis Chaffee School) added a pair of markers. Junior Schuyler Horn (New Hartford, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) turned aside six shots.

Wheaton tallied three straight goals to take a late lead before holding off Babson. The Lyons, who scored five consecutive markers during a 1:07 stretch with time winding down in the second quarter, grabbed a 12-10 advantage on freshman Billy McNamara's (Mansfield, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) tally with 2:24 left in regulation. After the Beavers drew within one, Horn came up with a pair of saves in the final 1:12 to deny a tying marker, as he finished with 16 stops for the game. McNamara recorded four goals, Cederberg turned in two goals and two assists, and junior Warren Garceau (Guilford, CT/Canterbury School) had two goals and a helper while going 11-for-14 on face-offs. Gomer notched seven face-off victories, while sophomore Chris Landers (Manchester, MA/Proctor Academy) turned in a goal and two assists.

Horn is tied for sixth in program history in single-season wins (6), while Gomer is ninth in ground balls (61). Gomer is first in school annals in career ground balls (265), second in face-off wins (390) and tied for fourth in games (57). Senior Marco Barbone (Newton, MA/Newton North) is second in games (60), sitting one shy of Richie Rasamny's '08 record, and is 10th in ground balls (108). Horn is fourth in saves (332), Garceau is fifth in face-off wins (154), and Schaffer is 10th in assists (41).