Utica, NY (3/17/14)- The Utica College men's lacrosse team looks to snap a two-game slide Wednesday as it hosts Castleton State.  The non-conference contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a 16-9 loss to Kean University on Saturday… Senior Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy) netted three goals and added two assists to finish as Utica's top performer...  Junior transfer Christian Reiller (Salamanca, NY/Genesee CC) and freshman Ross Cree (Akwesasne/Salmon River ) also chipped in with two goals and an assist each… Trent Jacobs (Akwesasne/Brewster Academy) and Andrew Jamieson (Six Nations, ON/Hagersville) capped off the scoring for the Pioneers and Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post) made seven saves in the loss.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Pioneers have won both their contests at home this year and UC has a three-game winning streak at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium dating back to last season… UC has outscored opponents 30-10 on its home turf so far this year.

LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore Trent Jacobs (Akwesasne/Brewster Academy) leads the team in goals (nine) and points (13)… He is tied for seventh in the conference in goals per game (2.25) and points per game (3.25)… Junior transfer Christian Reiller (Salamanca, NY/Genesee CC) is fitting in nicely with the Pioneer offense… Through four games, Reiller is second on the squad with 12 points (seven goals, five assists). 

HELPING OUT: 11 different players have scored at least one goal so far this season… Senior Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy) and freshman Ross Cree (Akwesasne/Salmon River ) are tied for third on the team with ten points each… Baron has seven goals and three assists, while Cree has six goals and four assists. 

BETWEEN THE PIPES: All four goalies have seen time in net so far… Junior Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post) has started all but one game and holds a .436 save percentage… Senior Cory Spisak (Lisle, NY/Tompkins Cortland CC) has started one game for the Pioneers… He currently ranks third in the conference with a 3.50 goals against average.

SCOUTING CASTLETON:  The Spartans are 1-2 overall and they are coming off a 16-3 loss to Williams last Tuesday… Last year Castleton made it to the NCAA Tournament where it lost to Empire 8 member, Nazareth College, 25-4… Castleton is led by senior Alex Green, who has seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games... This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.   

LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers remain home as they open up Empire 8 Conference play against Hartwick College on Saturday… Game time is set for 1 p.m.


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