Waterville, Maine- Bryan Griffin '05 (West Islip, N.Y.) scored three goals in the third period as the Tufts Jumbos (6-3) rallied from a 5-4 deficit in the fourth to top the Colby College White Mules (6-2) 7-5 at Seaverns Field. Tufts win was powered by an outstanding goaltending performance from Kirk Lutwyler '02 (Ridgewood, N.J.). The Mules offense created some offensive chances in the closing minutes, but Lutwyler made big save after big save to preserve the win. John Shea '02 (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) played well in the loss for Colby.

The Mules opened the scoring when Eric Siedel '05 (Durham, N.H.) worked the ball behind the net, drawing the Jumbo defense, and then found a wide open in the crease Blake Grosch '02 (Warren, N.J.) in front of the net for a score. Tufts answered minutes later when Jim Mandler '02 (Smithtown, N.Y.) shot one past the Colby netminder to even the score. The final score of the first quarter would come when Mandler hit David Supple '02 (Rowayton, Conn.) as he was cutting across the middle with a crisp pass, which Supple shot into the net for a 2-1 lead.

The Mules scored first in the second when Barron Butler '03 (Marblehead, Mass.) rifled a groundball shot past Lutwyler from twenty feet away to tie the score. Tufts would retake the lead when Chris Kollar '03 (Middle Island, N.Y.) scooped up a groundball in front of the Colby net and bounced it past Shea for a 3-2 score. Colby was able to tie up the score with fifteen seconds remaining in the half when Siedel came around the left side of the net and scored to tie things up heading into halftime.

Tufts retook the lead when Supple passed from the far side of the net to a cutting Jack Palmer '02 (Vestal, N.Y.) for a score. The back and forth nature of the contest would continue when Colby retied the score, with Siedel picking up his second assist when Josh Cleaver '04 (Kennett Square, Pa.) tied the score at 4-4. The Mules pulled ahead 5-4 when Cleaver scored his second straight goal cutting down the left side of the net. Colby entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 5-4 lead.

Tufts would score first in the final frame, when Griffin was able to get a slow roller past a blocked Shea to tie the score. Griffin scored again minutes later to give the Jumbos a 6-5 lead with ten minutes to go. Griffin was at the right place at the right time minutes later, positioned on the right post for a rebound and his third straight goal to open a two goal lead. Lutwyler's goaltending held Colby at bay, and Tufts held on to hand the Mules their first conference loss of the season.

Goals- Tufts- Griffin 3, Mandler, Supple, Kollar, Palmer Colby- Cleaver 2, Grosch, Butler, Siedel

Assists- Tufts- Griffin, Mandler, Supple, Zissi Colby- Siedel 2, Kane, Grosch

Face-offs- Tufts- 6 Colby- 10

Shots- Tufts- 35 Colby- 30

Groundballs- Tufts- 27 Colby- 27

Saves- Tufts- Kirk Lutwyler (60:00) 8 Colby- John Shea (60:00) 12