UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's lacrosse team took down the Castleton University Spartans 10-5 at home on Saturday afternoon. 
 
Sam Serrano (Stone Ridge, NY/Roundout Valley) led the Pioneers with a team high four goals and an assist while John Spoto (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) also registered a hat trick with three goals on the afternoon. Connor Costanza (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) had three points in the game with one goal and a pair of assists while Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) and Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) each had a goal. 
 
In goal, Patrick Oswald (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) picked up his first win of the season after an 18 save performance. 
 
Utica couldn't have asked for a better start to the game with a six goal first quarter. Shea got things going just 30 seconds into the contest and was soon followed by Serrano who scored three minutes later for a quick 2-0 advantage. Erickson (8:56), Costanza (6:08), and Serrano (4:05) each scored to make it 5-0 before Serrano struck again during a man-down situation with around one minute left in the first. 
 
Serrano opened up the second quarter with his fourth goal of the game just 15 seconds in to push Utica's lead to 7-0. However, Castleton came fighting back. The Spartans scored the final three goals of the half to bring its halftime deficit to four goals with a 7-3 score. 
 
Both teams settled in come the third quarter as the first six minutes featured little offense. That was, until Spoto fired one in for the Pioneers with roughly nine minutes left to put the team up 8-3. After a Castleton goal, Spoto went on to score again later in the third, both of which being Utica's total over the quarter, for a 9-4 lead after three full.
Spoto netted one more early in the fourth while the Spartans added one with about 1:30 left in the game however, it was too little too late for the visitors as the Pioneers walked away with a 10-5 win. 
 
Utica (2-3, 0-0 Empire 8) will host SUNY Canton at 1 p.m. on Monday.