Eight Tufts Lacrosse Players Graduate Early
Team to Play in NCAA Semi-final on Commencement Day
Alec Bialosky (E11) and his graduating teammates get their sticks ready for a procession at a special commencement ceremony for the men’s lacrosse team on Friday. The team will be missing the main commencement to play in the NCAA Championship semifinal round.
Bialosky (E11) leads his graduating teammates through a procession. Both photos by Kelvin Ma/Tufts University
For the second straight year, the seniors on the Tufts University men’s lacrosse team will miss Commencement because the team is playing in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championship. However, Tufts President Larry Bacow once again come through and spearheaded a special graduation ceremony for the Jumbos that took place on Friday morning.
“The Tufts community is excited to recognize these exceptional athletes who have worked so hard and performed so well on the lacrosse field and in the classroom,” says Bacow. “We’re proud of everything they have accomplished, and we want to ensure that we have the chance to honor them.”
The Tufts team, defending national champions, will be in Rochester, New York this weekend and on Sunday they will play RIT with a berth into the NCAA Final on the line. Game time is 1 pm.
On Friday before the team left, President Bacow presided over a lacrosse commencement ceremony for seniors Alec Bialosky (Moreland Hills, OH), Tom Bragg (Bath, ME), Brian Donovan (St. James, NY), Josh Gudjohnsen (Bethany, CT), D.J. Hessler (Monkton, MD), Ryan Molloy (Setauket, NY), T.C. Neuhs (Rockville Centre, NY) and Matt Witko (Chappaqua, NY).
Last year, the team left for Cortland, New York after an early graduation event and came from behind to defeat the Red Dragons 10-9 in the national semis. The Jumbos went on to win Tufts’ first-ever NCAA team title against Salisbury, 9-6. This year, they will face an undefeated RIT team (19-0) for the NCAA North crown on Sunday.
More than 3,000 undergrads, graduate and professional students will receive their degrees this Sunday at the university’s May 22 commencement.
– Information and photos from Tufts University