The best men's lacrosse season in Tufts history came down to a pivotal third quarter Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
The Jumbos dominated the third to break a halftime deadlock, securing the program's second NCAA Division 3 national championship with a 12-9 win over Salisbury.
It was a record-setting day for sixth-seeded Tufts (21-2), which set a program mark for wins, a Division 3 season mark for goals (423), and a tournament mark in assists (45). It was the Jumobs' 14th straight victory.
Junior Cole Bailey scored a goal and had five assists in being named the game's Most Outstanding Player. He did most of his work early for the Jumbos, who were knotted at 5 with the second-seeded Sea Gulls (21-2) after two quarters. Tufts outscored Salisbury, 7-1, in the third quarter. Senior Patton Watkins made eight of his 17 saves in the quarter.
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It was just the third meeting between the teams, with Tufts winning in the 2010 title game and Salisbury doing so in 2011.
Division 1 final — Maryland captured its 11th national title, getting five goals from Beth Glaros in a 15-12 victory over Syracuse. The top-seeded Terrapins (23-1) also won their last title at the same field in Towson, Md., in 2010.
Division 3 final — In the rubber match of the past three national title games, Salisbury held on, 9-6, against Trinity. The Bantams (19-3) scored all their goals in the second half.
Baseball
Division 3 World Series — In Appleton, Wis., seniors Forrest Chadwick and Matt Verrier each collected four RBIs as Southern Maine beat Baldwin Wallace, 11-5, to advance to a third straight elimination game. The Huskies (37-14) play Monday against Emory.
Division 3 World Series — Cassie Ruscz hit two home runs as Tufts blasted Wisconsin-Whitewater, 8-0, in five innings. The Jumbos (45-3) will begin a best-of-three series against Salisbury (43-3) Monday for the title, with a potential rubber match Tuesday.