Dartmouth Can't Rebound From Tough Start in 11-7 Loss at UMass

Tuesday, February 18

Amherst, Mass. / Garber Field

3:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-1

UMass

2-1

Dartmouth

Massachusetts

Dartmouth Can't Rebound From Tough Start in 11-7 Loss at UMass

2/18/2025 7:46:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Postgame Reaction

Big Green held a 7-6 edge after trailing 5-0

By: Justin Lafleur

AMHERST, Mass. — UMass jumped out to a pair of commanding leads and each time, the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team answered to pull closer, but couldn't get over the hump in an 11-7 loss on a cold Tuesday afternoon at Garber Field. The Minutemen held leads of 5-0 and later 10-4 before the Big Green scored three straight to pull within 10-7 with 1:48 remaining.

First-year Tyler Juhlin led the way offensively with three points via a goal and two assists. Colin McGill and Hopper Zappitello each scored twice, with Thomas Power adding a goal and assist. The Big Green scored all seven of their goals across the second and fourth quarters.

"Credit to UMass," said Dartmouth head coach Sean Kirwan. "They came out ready to go. Coach Cannella has always had a tough team. We knew we were going to have our hands full with a physical, scrappy team and they certainly were for us. I've got to do a better job preparing our men to come out firing, come out ready to go from the opening whistle."

With the loss, Dartmouth falls to 1-1 while UMass improves to 2-1.

Thomas Goguen led the defense with a career-high seven groundballs, to go with a caused turnover. Joe Azelby had five more groundballs (after eight in the season opener vs. Bucknell) along with a caused turnover.

Goaltenders stood tall in the first quarter. The stanza saw just one goal, scored by UMass' Matthew Cargiulo with 4:49 on the clock. Dartmouth's Mason Morel finished with five first-quarter saves, while UMass' Owen Salanger made two.

The Minutemen began the second quarter with four straight goals, including three in the span of 1:06 to take a 5-0 lead with 8:18 until halftime.

However, just 59 seconds later, McGill scored his first of the day. The Big Green followed with goals from a pair of first-years — Juhlin and Jackson Monte, marking the first of Monte's collegiate career — to pull within 5-3 at the half.

Thomas Power with an early candidate for goal of the year today. How did he finish this incredible backhand, no-look shot while being hooked to the ground?! 👀🤯#SCTop10 | #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/82t7o24Nsy
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) February 18, 2025

That score remained until 6:56 left in the third quarter. UMass scored then, and with 5:41 on the clock, to take a 7-3 lead into the fourth.

The Minutemen scored three of the first four goals in the fourth to take a 10-4 lead, making it a 5-1 run to begin the half. Dartmouth made one last push, however, as McGill scored his second on the extra man at 6:28. Power finished an incredible individual effort at 4:31, then Zappitello finished an unsettled situation with his second, pulling Dartmouth within 10-7 with 1:48 still on the clock.

Thomas Power with an early candidate for goal of the year today. How did he finish this incredible backhand, no-look shot while being hooked to the ground?! 👀🤯#SCTop10 | #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/82t7o24Nsy
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) February 18, 2025

The Big Green won the ensuing faceoff and went on the extra man, but a turnover effectively ended their chances as UMass' Will Morse found the open goal for an 11-7 lead, which proved to be the final.

"Our guys fight until the end," said Kirwan. "I love the effort that they put to make sure that they're going until the final bell. But at the end of the day, we've got to be ready to go right from the get-go."

Final shots were 49-37 in favor of Dartmouth, with the Big Green holding a 35-27 edge in groundballs. Spencer Reagan bounced back from a tough start to win eight of the final 11 faceoffs to finish 9-of-18 for the game. Evan Busby was 2-of-4 facing off.

Morel finished with 11 saves, eight coming in the first half. Salanger made 10 for the Minutemen.

Next up, Dartmouth hits the road on Saturday for a matchup at Holy Cross. Opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m.