Alfred 12, Utica 9 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (4/16/2011) – The Utica College men's lacrosse team rallied late, netting four unanswered goals in the final 14:28 of the contest, but an early deficit proved to be too much as Alfred University hung on for a 12-9 victory in Empire 8 Conference action on a cold, windy and wet Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Pioneers (2-9, 0-4 E8) were led by sophomore Ben Winkler (Rodman, NY/IHC)'s game-high four goals to go along with a courageous one goal and three assist effort from sophomore Justin Edelstein (Hartsdale, NY/Harvey School). Freshman Chris Gibbs (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) registered a career-high four points on one goal and three assists for Utica. Alfred, which opened its season with seven straight wins, has now won three in a row and improved to 10-2 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8.

The Saxons, led by Caleb McCaig's team-high three goals, jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead in the first 20:25 of the contest before Winkler found the back of the net with 5:04 left in the first half to cut the Saxon's lead to 5-1.

The third quarter featured 11 goals, seven of which were scored by Alfred, and the Saxons held a 12-5 advantage headed into the final quarter of the contest. UC was able to outshoot the visitors 17-7 in the final stanza, and scored the only four goals of the fourth quarter, but the Pioneer's comeback fell short as the Saxon's hung on for the three goal victory.

Joe Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Zachary Menapace (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) and David Craig (Brewerton, NY/Paul V. Moore) each added one goal for the Pioneers, while freshman Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy) and senior Matthew Crouse (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) each added one assist. The goal for Craig was the first of his collegiate career.

Senior goalie Joe Davis (Vestal, NY/Vestal) and junior Wilson Mukrdechian (Watertown, NY/Watertown) split time in net and combined for ten saves for the Pioneers, while junior defender Mick Krajacic (Clay, NY/Cicero North Syracuse) added a team-high four caused turnovers and scooped up three ground balls. Crouse tallied a team-high five ground balls and Edelstein added four ground balls of his own.

Alfred's Tyler Brooks-Lambert went 20-for-25 on face-off opportunities and added a game-high 16 ground balls, while Stefan Dabkowski chipped in with two goals and two assists. Marc Zoyhofski and Derek Green each registered two goals for the Saxons. Justin Becker made nine saves in net for Alfred.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Hartwick for an Empire 8 contest at 4 p.m.

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