Box Score
Nazareth College 15, Utica College  7 - Empire 8 Conference Tournament Semifinal

Rochester, NY (5/1/2013) – The Utica College men's lacrosse teams' most successful season in program-history came to a close on Wednesday afternoon as the Pioneers lost in the semi-finals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, 15-7, at host, top-seeded and nationally-ranked No. 15 Nazareth College.  The Golden Flyers pulled away from the Pioneers in the second half, outscoring UC 10-6 in the 30 minute stretch to earn the right to play in the conference tournament finals on Saturday.

The Pioneers (9-7) closed out their 2013 campaign with a school-record nine victories.  Nazareth College (13-4), a seven time conference champion, headed into the contest riding the highs of a seven game win streak and they will now take on third seeded Ithaca College in the conference tournament finals.  The last time the Golden Flyers won the conference tournament was back in 2011, earning an automatic bid into the NCAA's. 

The Pioneers, making their first appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first 15 minutes behind goals from senior captain Ben Winkler (Rodman, NY/IHC) and junior David Craig (Brewerton, NY/Paul V. Moore).  With the goal, Winkler tied 2010 graduate Michael Bulger for second place on the College's all-time goals scored list with 123.  Winkler finished the day with a team-best three goals to move into sole possession of second place on the scoring list.
 
The Golden Flyers rattled off four straight goals to open up the second quarter as the home squad took a 5-2 advantage with 5:02 left in the first half of play. The Pioneers would not go down without a fight, netting the final two goals of the first half, from the sticks of Zack Stevenson (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) and Trent Jacobs (Akwesasne/Brewster Academy), to cut the Naz lead to just one goal, 5-4, at the intermission. 

Naz outscored the Pioneers 4-0 in the third quarter to take a commanding 9-4 advantage with 15:00 left.  The first minute of the fourth quarter featured three penalties and one goal from each team before Nazareth went on another big run.  The Golden Flyers rattled off five consecutive goals to take a 15-5 lead with 7:50 left in the game. 

Freshman Luke Wooters finished the day with a game-high six points on three goals and three assists, while face-off man Drew Simoneau won 20-of-26 draws and scooped up 15 ground balls.  Naz's Collin Clark also posted four goals. 

Utica was able to muster three fourth quarter goals but it proved to be too late, as the home team earned the eight goal victory.  Utica's Trent Jacobs (Akwesasne/Brewster Academy) wrapped up his freshman campaign with two goals to give him a total of 28 on the year.  UC's Joe Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) posted a game-high four assists for UC to move into second place on the College's single season assist list with 29. 

Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post) started in net for the Pioneers and stopped seven shots, while freshman Trey Adams (Hogansburg, NY/Brewster Academy) came on in relief and posted six saves, but allowed ten second half goals.