Wilkes-Barre, PA – Sophomore Dylan Dunham (Elbridge, NY/Jordan Elbridge) totaled a team-best five points on four goals and one assist, but it was not enough as the Utica College men's lacrosse team dropped a 12-9 decision against host Wilkes University in the Pioneers season opener on Wednesday evening in Pennsylvania.

A cast of young Pioneers led the offensive attack as freshman John Avery (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Mendon) posted two goals in his first collegiate contest, while classmate James Daniele (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville) added one goal and one assist in his debut.  Senior John Hanlon (Coconut Creek, FL/St. John Paul Academy) added one goal and one helper for the Pioneers.
 
Utica (0-1) returns to action on the road Saturday when it travels to nearby SUNY Polytechnic to take on the Wildcats at 1 p.m.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of the contest behind goals from Avery and Dunham. Wilkes bounced right back with three goals of its own in a span of 6:11 to earn a 3-2 lead with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter of action. 

Dunham capped the first 15 minutes with his second goal of the evening to knot the score at 3-3 heading into the second. The Colonels came out firing in the second quarter and scored two goals in the first 1:23 to extend its lead to 5-3.  The Pioneers would not go down easy and tied the game up for the second time with two goals in a span of less than three minutes to make it a 5-5 game.  Dale Wagner (Elbridge, NY/Jordan Elbridge) found the back of the net for the first time this season, while Dunham added his third of the night during a man-up chance for the Pioneers. Wilkes' Nico Lorenzo beat UC goalie Harrison Bower (Northport, NY/Kings Park) before the half to hand the home team a 6-5 advantage through 30 minutes of action.

Both teams exchanged goals in the first 6:35 of the second half and the score was set at 8-7 with 8:35 to go in the 3rd quarter.  Dunham and Avery had the hot hands for UC again as they each registered a goal to open the second half.  Senior John Hanlon (Coconut Creek, FL/St. John Paul Academy) then tied the game up for the third time with his first of the year, off an assist from Dunham, to make the score 8-8 with 6:30 left in the third.

The home team then pulled together what proved to be the game-winning push as it posted three unanswered goals in the final 2:33 of the third quarter to take an 11-8 lead into the fourth. 

UC's James Daniele (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville) made it an 11-9 ballgame with his first goal as a Pioneer just over five minutes into the final quarter.  However, the Wilkes defense stood strong in the fourth quarter and the home team sealed the victory with a goal at the 4:02 marker to take a 12-9 lead that it would not relinquish. 

Freshman defender Kevin Parisi (Glenwood, NY/Vernon Township) impressed in his collegiate debut as he posted a team-best seven ground balls and also added two caused turnovers.  Nick Alexander (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) picked up where he left off last year and posted five ground balls for UC.

Goalie Harrison Bower (Northport, NY/Kings Park) stopped nine shots in net for the Pioneers, while Carter Whittemore added 13 saves for Wilkes in the victory.

Both teams recorded 22 shots on goal and the Pioneers won the turnover battle 24-18. Wilkes controlled possession in the face-off circle, winning 18-of-25 opportunities. Wilkes also added three goals on nine man-up chances.

John Wink was dominant on the offensive end for the Colonels as he posted a team-high eight points on five goals and eight assists.