CAMBRIDGE, MA – Host MIT used a five-goal run to rally for a 12-8 win over Johns Hopkins at the 2023 CWPA Division III Eastern Championships Sunday.
 
The Engineers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before back-to-back goals from freshman Alec Baker and sophomore Daniel Palfi tied the game with 1:53 to play in the first. Luke Apostolides and Matthew Pryce answered with a pair for MIT and the home team led 4-2 after one.
 
Freshman Owen Bartlett and sophomore Dado Soares opened the second with consecutive goals to knot the score at four. Evan Kowal then put the Engineers back ton top with a six-on-five goal at the 2:30-mark. Palfi and Baker responded with back-to-back goals just 46 seconds apart and Hopkins had its first lead, 6-5, with 1:21 to play in the half. Adam Ivatorov answered for MIT however and it was a 6-6 game at the break.
 
Bo Tignol scored to open the third and put the Engineers back on top, but goals from freshman Ethan Babel and sophomore Gavin Brooke, swung the lead back to the Blue Jays with 1:13 to play in the quarter. Tignol and Ivatorov responded with a pair of goals in the final 36 seconds to put MIT up 9-8. The Engineers then scored the only three goals of the fourth quarter to secure the 12-8 win and the CWPA Division III Eastern Championship.
 
Palfi and Baker led the Blue Jays with two goals each, while Palfi also handed out a pair of assists. Babel (1g, 1a), Brooke (1g, 1a) and Bartlett finished with two points each. Baker also drew four ejections and grabbed a pair of steals. Graduate student Saahil Naik finished with a season-high 15 saves in the goal. Brooke and Palfi were both named to the All-Tournament Team. 
 
Hopkins returns to action on Saturday, November 4 with a pair of home games versus Mount St. Mary's (12 pm) and Navy (6 pm).