POTSDAM, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team dropped it season opener against St. Lawrence at SUNY Potsdam on Sunday, 12-4. Utica sophomore Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) netted a team-high two goals, while Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew) and freshman Dominic Castiglia (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) each added one goal apiece. 

The Pioneers are now 0-1 overall headed into Wednesday's Contineer Cup crosstown rivalry game at Hamilton College (4 p.m.).  St. Lawrence improves to 2-0 overall on the year. The Saints were led by three goals each from Connor Healey and Jordan Dow.

St. Lawrence jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first half and never looked back.  The Pioneers were able to cut their deficit to 7-1 when Desveaux netted his first goal of the season, off an assist from senior Alex Finnegan (Bay Shore, NY/Islip), at the 11:09 marker of the third quarter.

St. Lawrence then tacked on two more goals before Yelich got on the board for Utica to make it a 9-2 ball game. 

Utica strung together two straight goals to start the fourth quarter and trailed by seven, but it proved to be too late as the Saints held on for the eight goal victory.  Desveaux netted his second of the afternoon, off an assist from Liam Wheatley (Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder) just 25 seconds into the final quarter. Freshman Dominic Castiglia (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) then registered his first collegiate tally, off an assist from Yelich, with 7:59 to go in regulation to close out the Pioneer scoring on the afternoon. 

St. Lawrence earned a 27-18 shots on goal advantage on the afternoon.  UC was able to win eight of 19 face-offs, including seven from freshman John Hanlon (Coconut Creek, FL/St. John Paul Academy). Senior goalie Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/Harborfields) stopped 15 shots and also picked up a team-best four ground balls for the Pioneers.

Rusty Dessert (Islip, NY/Islip) added a team-best two caused turnovers and picked up one ground ball, while Finnegan added three ground balls of his own for UC.

Healey finished the night with nine points on three goals and six assists for the Saints.  Jamie DeNicola also added two goals for the designated home team. 
The contest took place at SUNY Potsdam due to field conditions at St. Lawrence.