Jun 1, 2010 10:12:14 AM

Tufts won its first championship in a team sport when it claimed the Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship in Baltimore on Sunday.

Tufts beat Salisbury, 9-6, in front of more than 20,000 spectators.

The Jumbos started quickly, jumping out to a 7-1 lead and staving off a Salisbury rally.

"Besides our alumni and our fans, I don't think anyone thought we could win this one," said Tufts' D.J. Hessler about his team's status as underdogs to eight-time national champion Salisbury. "It's great to show we can come out and compete on this stage. We are putting our program on the map. People have got to respect us now."

Hessler, a Baltimore native, earned most outstanding player honors in front of his hometown crowd. [More]

Tufts 9, Salisbury 6

Tufts                6          1          1          1          9

Salisbury         1          3          1          1          6

Tufts scoring: Jamie Atkins 3, Doug DiSesa 2, D.J. Hessler, Matt Witko, Sean Kirwan, Ryan Molloy.

Salisbury scoring: Will Poletis, Jack DeLillo, Connor Burgasser, Mike Winter, Shawn Zordani.

Saves: Tufts (Steven Foglietta) 13, Salisbury (Johnny Rodriguez) 11.