Box Score #12 Stevens 23, Utica 7 - Box Score

Utica, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 12 Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team poured in 14 second half goals to pull away from host Utica College, as the Ducks earned a convincing 23-7 victory over the Pioneers in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  UC trailed by just four goals at the half, but the visitors opened up the second half with ten straight goals to secure the victory. 

UC snapped a two game conference winning streak and moved its record to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play.  Stevens, led by Harry Dorne's five goal outburst, improved to 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the E8.  Rich Dupras exploded for 10 points on four goals and six assists for the Ducks, while Nick Philippi added two goals and three assists. 

Stevens outshot UC 55-24 on the afternoon and also won 22-of-33 face-offs.  Utica junior Trent Thomas (Akwesasne, ONT/Massena) netted two goals and added one assist, while senior face-off man Oliver Barney (Vestal, NY/Vestal) scored two goals of his own. 

The first half of play was a back and forth battle between the two conference opponents.  Stevens opened the contest with two goals in the first 5:03 of play, before the Pioneers responded with two goals of their own, just eight seconds apart, to knot the score back up at 2-2.  Thomas and Barney each tallied their first goals of the day to help UC tie the game up.

Stevens answered with four consecutive goals, including two from the stick of Charlie Cronin, to give the Ducks a 6-2 lead with 9:34 to go before the halftime intermission.  The Pioneers would not let the Ducks get to far ahead, as they scored three of the game's next four goals to cut their deficit to 7-5 with 3:08 left in the first half.  Thomas and Barney got right back to work, scoring a goal each, while team leading scorer Ben Winkler (Rodman, NY/IHC) added his 43rd goal of the season, to cap the Pioneer run.

Unfortunately for UC, the visitors were able to notch two more tallies before the half to take a four goal lead into the final 30 minutes of action. 

The second half is when the Ducks really turned up the heat.  Stevens netted 12 straight goals to open the second half, including ten in the third quarter alone, to help secure the 16 goal victory. 

UC's Justin Edelstein (Hartsdale, NY/Harvey School) and Codey Staulters (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) each tallied a fourth quarter goal to account for all of the Pioneers' second half scoring. 

Winkler assisted on two goals for Utica, giving him three points on the day, while TJ Benson (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore), David Craig (Brewerton, NY/Paul V. Moore), Fred Del Genio (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and Edelstein added one assist a piece.  Senior goalie Joe Davis (Vestal, NY/Vestal) made 12 saves in 45 minutes of action for Utica and he also picked up seven ground balls. 

Senior defender Dennis Timmons (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) caused three turnovers and Dan Duffy (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) added two caused turnovers and two ground balls for UC. 

Alex Hofrichter posted five points on three goals and two assists for the Ducks, while Michael Steinhauser won 18-of-23 face-off opportunities.  Steinhauser added eight ground balls.  Eric Yando made seven saves between the pipes for Stevens. 

UC looks to get back on track  Wednesday when it travels to conference opponent Ithaca College for a crucial Empire 8 contest.  The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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