UTICA, NY -- The Utica College men's lacrosse team returns to action on Wednesday for a home matchup against Alfred State College. The opening face-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers set a new program-record for goals in a single game as it defeated Houghton College 31-7 in Empire 8 play on Saturday… UC was dominant right from the start as the team ended the first quarter with a 14-0 lead... Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) and Brickman House (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) netted three goals each in the opening quarter of play...Junior Patrick Dickson (West Palm Beach, FL/Cardinal Newman) led all scorers with four goals for the Pioneers.

Friendly Confines: Utica currently has a 5-3 overall record and has played seven of its first eight games at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium … The Pioneers are 4-3 at home this year and they look forward to two more home games this week before hitting the road for a three game stretch.
 
Senior Leadership: Senior Brickman House (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) totaled a team-best 15 points over the course of three games last week… He had an extremely efficient .917 shot % as he netted 11 goals on 12 shots as the Pioneers earned three victories... He also totaled seven ground balls on the week… He tied the school-record for points in a single game as he registered 10 points on seven goals and three assists in the Pioneers win over SUNY Poly on Monday… He added one goal and one assist in a win over Oswego and then came back with three goals in the Pioneers' Empire 8 victory against Houghton.
 
Sophomore Standout: Sophomore attacker Dominic Castiglia (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) has once again been effective this season for the Pioneers… He currently has 19 goals and six assists this season for a total of 25 points... Castiglia has posted 11 points during the Pioneers current three game win streak...  He was named all-conference last season as a freshman.
 
Break Out Season: Senior goalie Parker Smith (Dexter, NY/General Brown) was named Empire 8 Goalie of the Week for his performance last week…  Smith stopped a career-high 21 shots as the Pioneers topped Oswego State 12-10 on Wednesday afternoon…  He also picked up eight ground balls and caused one turnover…  Oswego outshot Utica 43-27 on the afternoon, including a 21-11 advantage in the second half…  Ten of Smith's 21 saves came in the second half to help the Pioneers preserve the victory… He currently leads the Empire 8 with an average of 13.82 saves per game.
 
Stepping Up: Junior attacker Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) has 22 points this season which ranks him third on the team…  He also has been a key factor in the Pioneers three game win streak adding nine goals and two assists during the stretch.
 
Playing Big: Sophomore midfielder Jake Bratek (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) currently ranks fourth on the Pioneers with 17 points… He had a season high five points against SUNY Poly that jump started the Pioneers recent win streak.  
 
Holding Down the Fort: Senior defensemen Rusty Dessert (Islip, NY/Islip) has had a strong start to his final season as a Pioneer…  He has 28 ground balls this season which is good for third on the team…  Dessert was an all-conference selection a year ago.
 
Scouting Alfred State: Alfred State is currently 2-8 on the season…  The Pioneers picked up their second victory of the season Saturday against La Roche, 16-7…  Junior attacker Teddy Alvarado has a team high 40 points this season including 31 goals…  Sophomore attacker Joe Johnson has 34 points, including 27 goals and seven assists.  

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will return to action Saturday April 8th when they take on the Alfred Saxons at home at 4 p.m. in an Empire 8 showdown.