ONEONTA, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team lost to host Hartwick College 13-10 in Empire 8 Conference action on Wednesday afternoon.  UC's Jake Bratek (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt), the reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week, netted four goals and added two assists to pace the Pioneers.

Utica's record moved to 9-6 overall and 3-2 in Empire 8 play headed into its final game of the regular season on Saturday at Elmira College. UC's nine wins are tied for the program's all-time single season record. 

UC's Dominica Castiglia tied Bratek for the team lead with four goals, while Brickman House (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) and Craig DiSanto (Montebello, NY/Suffern) each registered one goal on the afternoon.

Utica's Parker Smith (Dexter, NY/General Brown) stopped 13 shots and added eight ground balls for the Pioneers, while Sam Davi (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) scooped up five ground balls of his own and added one assist.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 4-2 first quarter lead behind two goals form Jake Bratek (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) and one each from Castiglia and House. Hartwick answered with four straight goals to take a 6-4 lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

The Hawks outscored the Pioneers 4-1 in the final 11:04 of the first half to take a 10-6 lead as the halftime horn sounded.

Each team netted two third quarter goals and the Pioneers outscored the home team 2-1 in the final 10:46 of the contest, but it proved to be too late as Hartwick earned the three goal victory.

Hartwick out shot Utica 43-36 on the afternoon and the Hawks were led by two goals and two assists by Sam Ferguson. Hartwick goalie C.J. Alesandrini stopped 11 shots in the victory.