After one of the best seasons in program history, the men’s lacrosse has begun its 2012 season with two hard-fought wins over Colby and Bates. Last year, the Jeffs won 13 games straight en route to their best-ever 15 wins and also went 8-1 in NESCAC play. Led by senior captain Evan Redwood at attack, the Jeffs will look to build upon their national quarterfinal appearance in their first-ever NCAA tournament last year.

Redwood teams up with senior Cole Cherney and sophomore sensation Devon Acton at attack. Coming off a team-high 59 points and NESCAC, ECAC and NEILA Rookie of the Year honors, Acton will undoubtedly be a centerpiece of the Jeffs offense.

Senior net-minder Sam Jackimo also returns after a stellar season last year, with the second-highest save percentage in the NESCAC and team MVP honors.

The Jeffs’ two wins this weekend mark the beginning of an extremely difficult schedule that features seven teams ranked in the preseason top-20. In-conference rivals Middlebury (No. 4) and Tufts (No. 2) will be tough tests for the fifth-ranked Jeffs.
On Saturday, the Jeffs came from behind to beat Colby 9-8. Acton and the Jeffs struck first with an unassisted goal coming in the opening minutes of the first period. The Mules would respond quickly, however, getting three goals past Jackimo to lead 3-1 midway through the first. Redwood then tallied his first of the day to cut Colby’s lead to one, before the Mules ended the quarter with another goal, leading 4-2.

Aaron Mathias ’14 again cut Colby’s lead to one goal in the second quarter, but Colby responded with back-to-back goals to take a 6-3 lead. Redwood found midfielder Ramsey Bates to bring the score to 6-4 with a minute left in the half before a Colby score with only eight seconds remaining left the Mules with the 7-4 advantage at the half.

Not to be upset on opening-day, the Jeffs came out refocused at the beginning of the second half, shutting their opponents out in the third period and adding two goals on offense, trailing 7-6 with only one quarter to go.

Acton tied it up early in the fourth and Cherney added his first of the game to give the Jeffs the lead, 8-7 with 6:38 to play. Colby responded with a goal from John Jennings with four minutes left to tie it up. Then, displaying both his leadership and scoring prowess, Redwood scored his third goal and what proved to be the game-winner for the Jeffs with 1:47 left.

Jackimo finished with 12 saves and won the ground ball battle with 28.

The next day, the Jeffs returned to their home field in front of a large crowd to take on Bates. Despite being out-shot and conceding more ground balls and faceoffs than the Bobcats, the Jeffs won 11-8, largely in part to solid outings from Jackimo and Acton.

Mathias got the Jeffs on board first, but Bates quickly responded. Senior captain and midfielder Alex Fox gave the Jeffs the lead with only seven seconds to go in the first quarter. From there, the Jeffs never looked back.

The Jeffs increased their lead in the second quarter before Bates got back on the board to trail the home side 5-2.

Amherst led at halftime, 6-2, and as the fourth quarter began they led 10-6 and cruised to an 11-8 victory.

Acton put up five points (three goals and two assists), while Redwood added four more and Jackimo tallied 19 saves.

The Jeffs return to action at home tonight against No. 11-ranked Endicott College before facing Bowdoin in Orlando, Florida on Saturday.