Box Score
Pittsford, NY (April 23, 2014) – The Utica College men's lacrosse team lost to host St. John Fisher College 8-5 in Empire 8 Conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Growney Stadium.  The loss for Utica eliminates the Pioneers from a second straight berth into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. Ross Cree (Akwesasne/Salmon River ) led the Pioneers with two goals on the afternoon, while senior captain Joe Schoen (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) added two assists and now needs just two more to tie the program's career record for assists (78). 

Utica has one game left in the season and will travel to Houghton College to take on the Highlanders Saturday at 1 p.m.  The Pioneers are currently 7-8 overall and wrapped up Empire 8 Conference play with a 3-4 record.  A win on Saturday would give the Pioneers a final record of .500 or better for the third straight season and it would mark the sixth time in program-history that UC has finished the year with eight or more wins. Three wins in the Empire 8 is tied for the second-most conference victories in program-history.

Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from Zack Stevenson (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) and Ross Cree (Akwesasne/Salmon River ). Schoen and classmate Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy) assisted on the game's opening goals and the Pioneers' led 2-0 with 3:17 left in the first. Cree ranks third on the team with 27 points this season (16 goals, 11 assists). Baron's 17 goals this season are a new career-high and Schoen leads the team with 19 assists.

Fisher answered with three straight tallies to take its first lead of the day just 1:03 into the third quarter. 

UC sophomore Corey Thompson (Akwesasne/Salmon River) knotted the score at 3-3 with 10:41 left in the third quarter off an assist from junior Christian Reiller (Salamanca, NY/Genesee CC). Thompson's 12 goals this season are a new career-high and Reiller's 40 points (27 goals, 13 assists) lead the team. 

Fisher then rallied with three straight goals in a span of 3:33 to take a 6-3 lead late in the third quarter. 

Cree answered early in the fourth quarter to make it a 6-4 contest, but the Cardinals had the answer once again, netting two straight to take a commanding 8-4 lead with 8:13 to go. 

Baron scored to make it a three goal game, 8-5, with 7:24 left but that was as close as the Pioneers would get as the home team escaped with a three goal victory.

Fisher out shot UC 30-28 on the afternoon, while the Pioneers won the ground ball battle, 26-21. Junior Tom Byrne (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) led the Pioneer defense with ten ground balls and he also caused two turnovers. Byrne's 77 ground balls this season are a new career-high and he is just two caused turnovers shy of his career-high mark of 36, which he set last season on his way to earning all-conference honors. Defender Sean Flanagan (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) added three ground balls and two caused turnovers for Utica.

Junior goalie Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post), who is the reigning Empire 8 Conference Goalie of the Week, stopped eight shots in the loss.

Jeff Wester led the Cardinals with one goal and three assists, while Tim Wagner came off the bench and added two goals of his own.  Fisher's Jamie Campagna stopped 11 shots in net for the win.