DALLAS, PA (March 14, 2009) - The Utica College men's lacrosse team improved to 1-2 on the year after a decisive 14-5 victory over host Misericordia University Saturday afternoon. Sophomore David O'Connell (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) netted one goal and added three assists for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers are now 1-0 all-time against the Cougars and they snapped a four game losing streak dating back to April 12th of last season.

The Pioneers, who never trailed in the contest, opened up a 2-0 lead at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter behind goals from Corey Boulio (Carthage, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) and Michael Brodhead (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse). The Cougars netted three of the game's next four goals to knot the contest up at 3-3 14:32 into the second quarter. UC answered with four consecutive goals to finish out the first half. Team leading scorer Michael Bulger (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) started the four goal onslaught when he netted his tenth goal of the season, man-down, to give UC a 4-3 lead at the 13:05 mark of the second quarter. Senior captain Tom Collins (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) then netted two straight goals and sophomore Michael Schepis (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart Central) closed out the second half scoring with his first goal of the year 15 seconds before the half.

UC outscored Misericordia 4-1 in the third quarter, highlighted by three consecuitve goals from Bulger, to give the Pioneers an 11-4 lead headed into the fourth and final quarter of the contest.

Utica closed out the final quarter by outscoring its opponent 3-1 over the course of the last 15 minutes. Brodhead completed his first collegiate hat-trick, while Boulio added a goal and sophomore Kevin Conway (Clinton, NY/Clinton) also added found the back of the net for the first time in his college career.

Senior goalie Travis Wright (Watertown, NY/Watertown) stopped 15 shots in his third victory as a Pioneer. Senior Aaron Benoit (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) added two assists and he now has a team-best six on the year. The Pioneers out shot the Cougars 42-31 and earned a 39-27 ground ball advantage.

UC returns to action Tuesday when they travel to Catholic University to take on Babson College at 12 p.m.

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