Elmira 11, Utica 7 - Box Score

Elmira, N.Y. (4/23/2011) – The Utica College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 3-2 first quarter lead but could not hold on, falling 11-7, in Empire 8 Conference play at Elmira College Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers outshot the Soaring Eagles 49-39 on the day, but they were held scoreless in the third quarter, and Elmira tacked on four fourth quarter goals to earn the victory.

The Pioneers (2-11, 0-6 Empire 8) have struggled in the third quarter all season, having scored one goal or less in the third quarter of nine game this season. Elmira improved to 5-6 overall and won its first conference game of the season, moving to 1-5 in the Empire 8.

Freshman Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy) and senior captain Kevin Conway (Clinton, NY/Clinton) got the Pioneers off on the right foot when they each netted a goal in the first 6:19 of the contest to give UC an early 2-0 lead. Elmira answered with two consecutive goals to knot the score at 2-2 with 1:12 left in the first quarter of play. UC was able to capitalize before the end of the first and freshman Chris Gibbs (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) continued his hot streak by netting his fourth goal of the season with 45 seconds left to give UC a 3-2 lead headed into the second quarter.

Elmira took its first lead of the contest, 4-3, after netting two straight goals to open the second. The Pioneers tied the score (for the final time in the game) at the 7:33 marker of the second quarter when sophomore Ben Winkler (Rodman, NY/IHC) registered his team-high 16th goal of the season. Unfortunately for UC, the Soaring Eagles found the back of the net twice in a row in a span of less than three minutes and took the lead for good, 6-4, with 4:09 to go in the half.

Freshman TJ Benson (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) scored his tenth goal of the year to cut the Elmira lead to 6-5 before the half.
Elmira's Adam Walker netted the lone goal of the third quarter and the Soaring Eagles outscored UC 4-2 in the final stanza to earn the four goal victory. Benson added his second goal of the day for UC and he now ranks second on the team with 11 goals on the year. Sophomore speedster Justin Edelstein (Hartsdale, NY/Harvey School) added a late tally to close out the scoring for UC.

Junior goalie Wilson Mukrdecian stopped 13 shots in net for UC, while Dan Duffy (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and Mick Krajacic (Clay, NY/Cicero North Syracuse) each added three caused turnovers for the Pioneer defense. Krajacic and Joe Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each scooped up four ground balls. Schoen added a career-high three assists. Junior Oliver Barney (Vestal, NY/Vestal) tallied one assist and Baron finished the day with one goal and one assist. Gibbs, Duffy and Matt Wellington (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) each recorded three ground balls.

The Pioneers return home for their final two games of the season, beginning with Empire 8 Conference rival and nationally-ranked No. 2 RIT, Wednesday. The Tigers (13-0) are currently riding the highs of a program-best 13 game winning streak. The contest is set to begin at 4 p.m.

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