UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team defeated visiting Alfred University 12-9 in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Pioneers are now 5-7 overall and 1-4 in the conference while the Saxons are 4-7 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
Alfred found the back of the net first after 10:55 of scoreless first quarter action. Andy Haynes (Rockford, MI/Rockford) beat UC senior defenseman Nick Evanoff (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) with an inside move and slid a goal past goalie Anthony Carnevale (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) to give the Saxons a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers tied the game up when senior attacker Steve Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) received a fast break pass from Evanoff, faked right and went behind the back to beat Alfred goalie Drew Foster (Pittsford/Pittsford-Sutherland) with 8:17 left in the second quarter. Evanoff was credited with an assist on the man down goal.

UC took its first lead of the contest when Schoen found freshman David O'Connell (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) in front of the net. O'Connell ripped an underhand shot past Foster and the Pioneers found themselves up 2-1 with 4:57 left in the half. 52 seconds later O'Connell scored his second goal of the game to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.

Utica took a commanding 4-1 lead after Ryan McGowan (Northport, NY/Northport) rifled a shot from seven yards out that found the top right corner with two minutes left in the second quarter.

UC out shot Alfred 22-7 and the Pioneers cased 16 turnovers as they took a 4-1 lead into the intermission.

Alfred opened the second half scoring when senior attacker Jeff Andrews (Horseheads/Horseheads) beat Carnevale to cut the Pioneers lead to two goals.

O'Connell took the Pioneers three goal lead right back with his third goal of the game 4:50 into the second half.

Mark Pincelli (Rochester/Aquinas) stole a Carnevale pass in the Pioneer zone and cruised in all alone to score the Saxons third goal of the game at 6:58. Two consecutive Alfred goals tied the game up at 5-5 with 5:37 left in the third quarter. Jarrett Moffitt (Elmira/Corning West) and Liam Glover (Savona/Bath-Haverling) each netted a goal for the Saxons.

UC answered with three goals to take an 8-5 lead after three quarters of play. O'Connell scored his fourth goal of the game, Josh Turner (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam), and Michael Bulger (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) also scored for UC. Bulger netted an insurance goal 31 seconds into the fourth quarter to give UC a four goal lead. Bulger rocketed a shot from 11 yards out with 11:56 left in the final quarter to put the Pioneers up 10-5. Schoen was credited with an assist on the goal.

Alfred out scored UC 3-1 over the course of the next nine minutes and cut the Pioneers lead to 11-8 with just over two minutes left in the contest. Bulger, who leads the Pioneers in scoring, netted his fourth goal of the game with 2:03 left to extend their lead to 12-8.

Alfred would score once more before time expired but it proved to be too little to late.

The Pioneers return to action against visiting RIT Wednesday at 4 p.m. Conference foe R.I.T is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.

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