UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team defeated Empire 8 Conference foe Elmira College 8-6 Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Pioneers, who out shot the Soaring Eagles 33-29, improved to 2-2 in the conference for the first time in program history.

After a 1-1 first quarter tie Elmira took a 2-1 lead 3:42 into the second quarter on a goal by Ashton McLean (Scarborough, ONT). McLean also tallied three assists on the day.

The Pioneers answered right back with three unanswered goals, two of which came from Ryan McGowan (Northport, NY/Northport).

Two third period Elmira goals by Chris Tarkowski (Whitesboro, NY) and Russell Smith (Annapolis, MD) pull the Soaring Eagles to within one, but Dave Misiaszek (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) found the back of the net on an assist from Steve Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) to give Utica a 7-5 lead and they never looked back.

Misiaszek tallied a team-high three goals and one assist, while Schoen assisted on two and scored one of his own.

Freshman Tom Collins (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) and senior Rob Meyer (Bohemia, NY/) each posted one goal for Utica, while Kory Buckley (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) added an assist.