UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's lacrosse team beat SUNY Poly 4-1 on Thursday afternoon for its first win of the season. The win was also the first of head coach Lelan Rogers Pioneer career.
 
Sam Serrano (Stone Ridge, NY/Roundout Valley) led the way with two goals while Jonathan Chilinski (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) each had one. Luke Rinaudo-Concess, John Spoto (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon), and Connor Costanza (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) all recorded one assist. Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) continues to be terrific in net and was lights out today with nine saves and allowing just one goal. Kevin O'Brien-Bruno (Goshen, NY/Don Bosco) and Andrew Sacco (New Haven, CT/North Haven) led the team with three ground balls while five players had two.
 
The teams were fighting for ground balls all game as Poly won the battle 20-18. Yet, the Pioneers outshot the Wildcats 31-27 and created plenty of scoring opportunities.
 
The first quarter was very physical as the teams were battling for possession and the defenses were not allowing any open shooting lanes. After a few minutes of pressure, the teams were able to adjust and start firing off shots. After a Utica penalty, Poly scored on the extra man advantage to take a 1-0 edge at the 7:46 mark. Yet, Utica responded as Sam Serrano (Stone Ridge, NY/Roundout Valley) found the back of the net at the 7:09 mark of the first period off a nice feed from Luke Rinaudo-Concess to knot the game at 1-1.
 
The teams each fired eight shots in the second quarter yet both goalies turned away the attempts. The game remained tied 1-1 entering halftime. 
 
The Pioneers came out firing in the third quarter outshooting the Wildcats 11-3 in the frame and possessed the ball in the attacking zone for long stints of time. Serrano fired off a shot at the 13:14 mark to give Utica its first lead of the game, 2-1. Connor Costanza (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) assisted the goal with a nice pass to set up the shot. The Pioneers took a 3-1 lead as Jonathan Chilinski (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) ran through multiple defenders to score at the 7:19 mark. 
 
The Utica offense remained hot in the fourth quarter as Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) rifled in a goal off a feed from John Spoto (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) to increase the Pioneer lead to 4-1 with 14:27 left to play. The goal continued Utica's Empire 8 leading success in extra man opportunities. The Pioneers held on for a 4-1 victory and its first win of the season.
 
Utica (1-2, 0-0 Empire 8) will return home to face SUNY Canton on Saturday, March 4 at 12 p.m.