UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team lost to visiting Hamilton College 9-8 Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers are now 3-3 overall, while Hamilton improves to 2-2. All three of the Pioneers loses have come by one goal.

Hamilton got on the board first when Clark Winter (Darien, CT/Darien) found the back of the net with 4:15 into the first quarter. Winter closed out the evening with two goals and two assists for Hamilton.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as four goals when they trailed 5-1 early in the second quarter until they went on a four goal run in a 10 minute span. Tanner Stewart (Lowville, NY/Lowville), Tom Collins (Camillus, NY/West Genesee), and Michael Bulger (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) each scored to cut the lead to 5-4. UC tied the game up at 5-5 when Josh Turner (Potsdam, NY/) won the opening face-off and cruised past the Hamilton defense to score a goal with 3:38 left in the first half.

Hamilton answered with three goals in five minutes to start off the second half and regain the lead 8-5. Steve Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) netted a goal with 3:55 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 8-6, but Frankie Holiber (Chappaqua/Horace Greeley) answered quickly to give Hamilton a 9-6 lead.

Ryan McGowan (Northport, NY/Northport) tallied his first goal of the game 1:22 into the fourth quarter to cut the Continentals lead to 9-7. Schoen made a great move and bounced his second goal of the game off the turf to beat Ethan Shoemaker (Kansas City, MO/The Pembroke Hill) to pull the Pioneers to within one goal.

The Pioneers could not convert when they were handed an excellent opportunity after Winter was charged with a one minute unnecessary roughness penalty with 5:55 left in the game. That proved to be the Pioneers final legitimate scoring opportunity.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday against visiting Oswego St. The opening face-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.