UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's lacrosse team plays two games on the road against Russell Sage on April 16 at 7 p.m. and Alfred on April 19 at 1 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Sage video link can be found here and live stats here. Live Alfred video can be found here and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University men's lacrosse team dropped a highly contested 10-9 Empire 8 matchup against SUNY Brockport on April 12. Point production: Ryan Hollenbeck (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker) led Utica with three goals and Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) had one goal and one assist. Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully) (one goal), Michael Mecca (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) (one assist), Quinn Orsisni (one goal), Colin Zouck (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) (one goal), Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (one assist), Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) (one goal) and Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) (one goal). Patrick Oswald (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) made 13 saves in a strong effort between the pipes. This was the fifth game this season where he's posted at least 10 saves. Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles) went 9 for 14 at the faceoff X, Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) went 5 for 7 and Trent Herlehy (Hamburg, NY/Frontier Central) won one. Both teams combined for seven goals in the first quarter, four for Utica and three for Brockport. The Golden Eagles scored first with 13:16 on the clock from their leading scorer, Nate Askin. Erickson notched an unassisted goal for Utica at the 7:52 mark, tying the game at one. Brockport scored twice more before Orsini recorded a goal making it a 3-2 Brockport lead. Nappi scored his first career goal just under four minutes to play and Reid tallied a goal right after making it a 4-3 ball game entering the second quarter. Brockport totaled three goals in the second quarter compared to Utica's one. The Golden Eagles scored twice between the 11:03 and 8:42 mark, creeping out to a 5-4 advantage. Hollenbeck tied the game at five with 7:33 remaining in the second before Brockport struck back to make it a 6-5 game heading into the third. Each team scored three goals in the third quarter. The first two came from Brockport, but Utica answered back with three of their own, tying the game at eight. The Golden Eagles scored one more goal to take a 9-8 score to the fourth quarter. Brockport scored the first goal of the fourth quarter with 12:10 on the clock, jumping out 10-8. The next 10 minutes of action was a lot of back and forth until Shea tallied a goal with 1:23, cutting the lead to 10-9.
 
On Pace For 50: Considine is seven points away from the 50-point mark which hasn't been done since 2017 (Brickman House). He now sits third in Empire 8 action with 25 goals and 18 assists, averaging nearly four points per game. His 25 goals are top-ten in league play and his 18 assists are third. Considine has also been a groundball vacuum, sitting third on Utica with 32 behind Mecca (42) and Andrew Sacco (New Haven, CT/North Haven) (36). 

Clampin' Down: Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles) enters the week with 87 faceoff wins (.458 percent), best for sixth in Empire 8 action. His best performances have come in the last three contests against Keuka, Poly and Brockport. Nappi has been a fantastic addition to the faceoff group, winning 18 of 41 in six games. Against Brockport, Nappi scored his first collegiate goal. Mecca leads Utica with 42 groundballs, mostly all coming off the wing and has 14 in the last three games combined.
 
Long Pole Points: The defensive group of Aaron Bergquist (Brewerton, NY/Central Square), Jake Loughlin (Victor, NY/Victor), Gianpaul Cooper (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Colin Musso (Auburn, NY/Auburn) and Vincent Bernardo (Ossining, NY/Ossining) have totaled 10 points combined this season off four goals and six helpers. 
 
Fort Knox: Oswald has been a force between the pipes, sporting a 12.59 goals against average and a .466 save percentage. His goals-against average is top six in conference action and his 605 minutes logged is top-five. Oswald now ranks second all-time in program history with 17 wins and third in saves with 443.
 
About The Gators: Russell Sage is 4-9 overall (1-4 Empire 8). The team is coming off its first conference win against Keuka College on April 12, 19-11. Prior to that win, Sage dropped its previous five games to Hartwick, Fisher, Alfred and Castleton. Anthony Marrone leads the Gators with 45 goals on 127 shots, 74 on-goal. He's scored 14 goals in the last two games against Hartwick (six) and Keuka (eight). Jack McElwee is second on the Gators with 20 goals and a team-leading 15 assists. Joe Johnson leads the way with 65 groundballs and 25 caused turnovers. He's totaled 15 groundballs in Sage's last three games against Keuka (four), Hartwick (five) and Geneseo (six). At the faceoff X, Dean Sampson has a .531 faceoff percentage (101-190) and 47 groundballs. In goal, Jordan Hankel has a 14.44 goals-against average and a .522 save percentage.
 
About Alfred: The Saxons are 4-6 overall and 2-3 in E8 play. Alfred is on a three-game losing streak dating back to April 5 against St. John Fisher. Cole Loewke has a team-leading 42 points off 30 goals and 12 assists. Mike Hasley leads Alfred with 22 assists off 33 points. At faceoff, Cupp Hunter is 132 for 166 (.795 percentage) and has a team-leading 86 groundballs. Cupp has posted 49 wins in Alfred's last three contents. On defense, Benjamin Cunningham has a team-leading 20-caused turnovers. Quinn Sullivan starts in goal for the Saxons, posting a 9.05 goals-against average and a .552 save percentage. 

Looking Ahead: The team hosts Hartwick College for their next matchup on Wednesday, April 23 at 4 p.m.