CLINTON, NY – The Hamilton College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 9-1 first half lead and never looked back on its way to an 18-5 victory over visiting Utica College in the 8th annual Contineer Cup rivalry game on Wednesday afternoon.  Utica senior Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew) led the way for the Pioneers with two goals and one assist. 

The Pioneers saw their record fall to 0-1 overall and they will return to action on the road Saturday at Potsdam (1 p.m.).  Utica fans will get their first look at the 2018 Pioneers at home next Wednesday when they host Marywood at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium (4 p.m.).

Jake Bratek (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) got the Pioneers on the board in the second quarter when he netted his first of the year at the 10:43 mark to make it a 9-1 ball game in favor of the Continentals.

The home team (1-1) held an eight goal advantage, 9-1, headed into the half.

Senior Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) made the score 10-2 with his 65th career goal, assisted by Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew), at the 10:56 mark of the third quarter. Desveaux added three ground balls for the Pioneers on the afternoon. 

Hamilton then rattled off seven straight goals to take a convincing 17-2 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

Yelich responded for Utica when he scored his first goal of the night early in the fourth quarter, assisted by John Hanlon (Coconut Creek, FL/St. John Paul Academy), to make the score 17-3 in favor of the Continentals. It was the first of three straight goals for the Pioneers.  Zach Duby (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) added his first goal in the blue and orange with 8:22 left in the contest, before Yelich capped the Pioneer scoring with his second goal of the night with 3:52 left on the game clock.

Yelich, a two-sport athlete (football), now has 27 goals in 38 career games for Utica.

UC goalie Harrison Bower (Northport, NY/Kings Park) made 13 saves in 45 minutes of work for the Pioneers.  Brad Schulman (Airmont, NY/Suffern) came on in relief and made two stops for Utica in the fourth quarter.  Kyle Gately stopped six shots and earned the victory for the Continentals.

Tyler Giachinta (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) posted four ground balls and caused two turnovers for the Pioneers.  Jimmy Vienneau (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) also added four ground balls. Jared Smaldon (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Nick Alexander (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) each added two caused turnovers for Utica.

Chad Morse and Chris Conley led Hamilton with four goals apiece.