For the second straight game the Utica College men's lacrosse team fought hard but fell just short. The Pioneers led by two goals in the first half and never trailed by more than two goals the entire game in an 8-7 loss at windy Hamilton College on Saturday afternoon. Senior goalie Travis Wright stopped 15 shots as the Pioneers were outshot 35-17 on the day. Michael Bulger netted five points on four goals and one assist, including a man-up goal with 1:07 left in regulation to pull the Pioneers to within one goal.

Junior midfielder Kevin Conway, a native of Clinton, opened the scoring in the first minute of the contest when he tallied his second goal of the season, unassisted, to give the Pioneers' a quick 1-0 lead.

Hamilton responded with two straight goals to take a 2-1 lead, but senior slinger Michael Bulger answered with two consecutive goals to open the second quarter and put the Pioneers back on top, 3-2. Classmate John Giordano added a goal of an assist from Bulger and the Pioneers led 4-2 with 6:21 to go in the first half of play.

The Continentals' Henry Burchenal added two goals in the final 4:17 of the first half to knot the score at 4-4 after 30 minutes.

Hamilton took the lead for good by scoring the first two goals of the second half.

Bulger ripped a shot into the top right corner from 12 yards out off an assist from classmate Reed Reynolds at the 3:48 mark of the third quarter to cut the Continental lead to 6-5.

Unfortunately for Utica – Hamilton added two goals, both assisted by Burchenal, in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

The Pioneers rallied late with two goals in the final ten minutes but they could not get a shot on net on their final possession as Hamilton escaped with a one goal victory.

Graduate student Travis Wright stopped 15 shots in net for the Pioneers, while his counterpart Max Vaickus, stopped five shots for Hamilton.

UC returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Gordon College to take on the Fighting Scots in non conference play at 4 p.m.

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