UTICA, NY  -- The Utica College men's lacrosse team closed out its 2015 season with a convincing 26-5 victory over visiting Houghton College on Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  26 goals marks the second most goals scored in a single game in program-history.  Utica capped its season with an 8-8 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference play.

Utica has now won at least eight games in five of its last seven seasons and the Pioneers secured a .500 record or better for the fourth consecutive season.

15 different Pioneers scored at least one goal in the victory.  Senior Zack Stevenson (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) led the way with four goals and five ground balls while Brickman House (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) added a career-high three goals and two assists.  Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew) chipped in with a career-high two goals and two assists while Patrick Mulligan (Commack, NY/Commack) added a career-high four points on one goal and three assists.

Alex Finnegan (Bay Shore, NY/Islip) netted three goals for Utica and Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic), Mitch Sobilo (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) and Jeff Pierce (Clinton, NY/Clinton) each posted two goals. Sobilo also added one assist for a career-high three points.  Senior George Lopano (Croton, NY/Croton Harmon) capped his senior campaign with a career-best one goal and two assists. Lopano also went 13-for-19 on face-offs and added a game and career-high nine ground balls.

Senior Codey Staulters (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) also chipped in with a career-high one goal and two assists. Freshman Brandon Tracz (Oswego, NY/Oswego) added his second collegiate goal while senior Cale Siver (Watertown, NY/General Brown) netted his first collegiate goal.

Junior Mike Wells (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) added his first collegiate point as he registered one assist.  Senior's Fred Del Genio (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and Sean Flanagan (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each netted one goal apiece. Liam Wheatley (Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder) added one goal and one assist as Matthew Miller (Geneva, NY/Geneva) and Patrick Dickson (West Palm Beach, FL/Cardinal Newman) each added one assist. 

Senior Tom Byrne (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) registered seven ground balls and added two caused turnovers.  Byrne finished the season with 88 ground balls which ranks ninth on the College's single season list. His 264 career ground balls ranks third on the College's all-time list and he also finished with 132 career caused turnovers.

Utica's Zack Stevenson (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) will graduate ranked sixth on the College's all-time list with 218 career ground balls.  In the last four years he posted 69 career points (51 goals, 18 assists) and his 428 career face-off victories ranks second all-time at UC.

Utica goalie's Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post), Parker Smith (Dexter, NY/General Brown) and Kobi Johnson (Akwesasne/Salmon River ) combined for seven saves between the pipes.  As a team the Pioneers posted an 8.00 goals against average this season, a new school-record.

The Pioneers held a 12-2 lead at the half and went on to outscore the Highlanders 14-3 in the second half to earn the 21 goal victory.

Houghton (1-13, 0-8 Empire 8) was led by one goal each from Sean Daigler, Josh Bailey, Justin Flint, Paul Chapman and Cameron Groff.  Highlander goalie Josh Haingray stopped 21 shots for the visitors.