UTICA, NY (March 28, 2009) - The Utica College men's lacrosse team defeated visiting Oswego State 14-10 in non conference play Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The contest featured seven ties, but the Pioneers pulled away by netting four of the game's final five goals with less than 10:25 to go in the fourth quarter. Aaron Benoit and David O'Connell led the way for UC with five points each.

The Pioneers have now won four of their last five games for the first time since 2006 and they improved to 4-3 overall on the year. UC is 6-0 all-time against Oswego, with three previous victories over the Lakers coming by just one goal. Oswego has lost four of its last five games and dropped to 2-6 overall on the year.

After Oswego's Dan Rogers opened the scoring with 5:09 left in the first quarter the Pioneers answered with two quick goals in the final 3:30 of the first to take a 2-1 lead into the second stanza. David O'Connell played a part in both of the first quarter goals for UC. He netted his tenth of the season with 3:30 to go off an assist from team-leading scorer Michael Bulger, before assisting on the Pioneers' second goal of the game from the stick of senior captain Aaron Benoit with 1:50 to go in the first.

Oswego outscored UC 5-3 in the second quarter to take a 6-5 lead as the first half buzzer sounded. Mike Recor tallied two of the Lakers' five second quarter goals, while Eric Zerrahn, Ryan White and Spencer Malitia each added one a piece.

The Pioneers came out hot in the second half and outscored the Lakers 4-1 in the third quarter to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth and final quarter. Junior Michael Brodhead opened up the scoring in the second half and also assisted on the second Pioneer goal of the third quarter to give UC a 7-6 lead with 8:26 left in the third. Rogers netted the equalizer to knot the contest up at 7-7 with 7:36 to go in the third, but UC's Tom Collins responded 31 seconds later with his ninth goal of the season to give UC the lead right back. Collins's goal would prove to be the eventual game-winner as the Pioneers would not surrender the lead for the final 22:05 of play. Bulger closed out the third quarter scoring for UC with his 20th goal of the season to give UC a 9-7 lead headed into the fourth.

Rogers netted his fourth goal of the game at the 12:37 mark of the fourth quarter to cut the UC lead to 9-8, but Michael Bulger answered right back with his 21st goal of the season just 34 seconds later to give UC a two goal lead, 10-8, with 12:03 to go in the contest. UC outscored Oswego 4-2 in the final 11:27 of play, including the game's final three goals, to give the Pioneers a four goal victory.

Senior captain Tom Collins netted three goals and added one assist for UC, while Michael Brodhead added two goals and one assist. Senior goalie Travis Wright made ten stops to earn his fourth victory of the season in net for the Pioneers. Junior Corey Boulio scooped up a career-high 15 ground balls and won 17-of-26 face-offs for UC. Senior defender Jodey McAvoy added a game-high six caused turnovers and also snagged five ground balls.

Recor and Rogers each totaled three goals for the Lakers, while Spencer Mallia added one goal and one assist. Judd Robinson stopped 14 shots in net for Oswego.

The Pioneers outshot the Lakers 45-28 on the day and scooped up 38 ground balls compared to Oswego's 28. UC also won 18-of-28 face-offs.

UC returns to action Wednesday when they travel to conference rival and regional power Nazareth College for an E8 contest set to begin at 4 p.m. Oswego returns to the field next Saturday when they travel to SUNY Morrisville. The contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.


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