UTICA, NY (April 8, 2009) - The Utica College men's lacrosse team dropped a 17-9 decision against visiting and nationally-ranked No. 7 Ithaca College Wednesday. The Pioneers rallied late with five goals in the fourth quarter to cut the Bomber lead to six, but Ithaca answered with two goals in the final five minutes of play to earn the conference victory. UC junior Michael Bulger (Watertown, N.Y.) netted three goals and added two assists for the Pioneers, while senior Aaron Benoit (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and junior Michael Brodhead (Cicero, N.Y.) each chipped in with two goals for Utica.
With the loss the Pioneers even their record at 5-5 overall and they remain winless in conference play at 0-3. Nine goals marks the most UC has scored against Ithaca College in program history. The Pioneers have never beaten the Bombers and they have been outscored 157-48 over the course of nine meetings all-time.
Ithaca (10-1, 3-1 Empire 8) is back to its winning ways after losing its first game of the season Saturday at conference rival RIT. The Bombers opened their 2009 campaign with nine consecutive victories before falling to the Tigers last weekend.
The Bombers jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter against the Pioneers, led by three goals in the first 10:30 of play from senior Alec Seifert (Duxbury, Mass.). Seifert would close out the day with a game-high six goals. The Pioneers lone goal of the first quarter came unassisted, on a man-up opportunity, by Bulger at the 10:18 mark.
Ithaca outscored UC 4-1 in the second quarter to take an 8-2 lead into the halftime intermission. Four different Bombers scored one goal in the quarter including Mike Silipo (Deerfield, Mass.), Chris Carmen (Alamo, Calif.), Tom Mongelli (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Seifert. Silipo also assisted on Mongelli's goal at the 6:53 mark. UC junior Michael Brodhead netted his first goal of the contest 9:08 into the second quarter to cut the Bomber lead to 6-2, but Ithaca scored two goals in the final 6:53 of the half to take a six goal lead into the third quarter.
The Bombers netted the first three goals of the second half to take a commanding 11-2 lead. UC answered with two consecutive goals to cut the Bomber lead to 11-4 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter. Senior Aaron Benoit netted his first goal of the contest off an assist from sophomore stand out David O'Connell (Syracuse, N.Y.) at 2:49, before senior goalie Travis Wright (Watertown, N.Y.) traveled the entire length of the field to net his first collegiate goal with 1:02 to go in the third quarter. IC's Devin Weinshank (Long Beach, N.Y.) netted his third goal of the season with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Bombers a 12-4 lead headed into the fourth and final quarter.
Both teams scored five goals in the fourth quarter, including three straight by Utica over the course of 1:26 late in the fourth, but it proved to be too late as the Bombers scored the game's final two goals and earned the eight goal victory.
Sophomore goalie David Gal (Amherst, Mass.) stopped eight shots in 45 minutes of work, before senior Ben Connery (Home, N.Y.) closed out the final 15 minutes in net for the Bombers and stopped four shots. Travis Wright made ten saves in between the pipes for the Pioneers. Wright also added four ground balls and caused three turnovers.
Sophomore Kevin Conway (Clinton, N.Y.) added a fourth quarter goal for UC, his seventh of the year, while Tom Collins (Camillus, N.Y.), Corey Boulio (Carthage, N.Y.) and David O'Connell each added one assist. Junior Reed Reynolds (Orlando, Fl.) scooped up four ground balls and added two caused turnovers for the Pioneers.
Devin Weinshank found the back of the net three times for the Bombers, while Nick Heckman (Sparta, N.J.) and Chris Carmen also added two goals each. Michael Edwards (Jamesville, N.Y.), Kevin Bush (St. George Island, Fl.) and Mike Silipo (Deerfield, Mass.) led the way for Ithaca with two assists each.
Ithaca earned a 40-28 ground ball advantage and they also won 20-of-30 face off opportunities. The Bombers outshot UC 47-33 on the day.
Utica returns to action Saturday for the final contest of a three-game home stand when they host conference rival Alfred University at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at www.ucpioneers.com. Ithaca wraps up a three game road trip Saturday when they travel Pittsford, N.Y. to take on nationally-ranked No. 24 Nazareth College for a conference contest at 1 p.m.
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