OSWEGO, NY - Utica University's men's lacrosse returned to action after Spring Break, traveling to the Laker Turf Stadium to challenge 4-1 Oswego State. The Pioneers took a one-goal lead into halftime, but a four-goal run by the Lakers in the second half extended their lead just enough, fending off Utica's attempts in an 8-7 final score.
The Pioneers' offense was headed by two players:
Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) and
Ethan Hunt (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles). Considine netted three goals, the only multi-goal Pioneer, as Hunt scored one and assisted two. No other player had multiple points, as
Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully),
Danny Dunn (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), and
Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) each scored once, and
Lucas Donahue (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) added one assist, the only assist not from Hunt. Junior defender
Aaron Bergquist (Brewerton, NY/Central Square) had a massive day for Utica, accounting for six of the team's 15 total caused turnovers, and leading both teams with nine ground balls. No other player in the contest had more than two caused turnovers, and Utica's
Michael Mecca (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) was the only other player with more than four ground balls, pulling in seven.
Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) led the team at the faceoff X, winning 10 of 13 draws, followed by
Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles), who went 3-of-6. Senior
Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) played between the pipes, making 11 saves.
Much of the Laker offense was focused on three players. Garrett Elston led the team with three goals, notching two assists as well. Trey Jones scored twice and assisted once, joining Emmet Starowicz with three points, who got them all via assists. Utilizing man advantages was key for the squad, as four of their eight goals came man-up. Logan Postel, Hayden Coney, and Doryn Leclair each netted one goal, closing out the Oswego scoring. The home team's defensive stats were very balanced, as six players tied for the team lead with three ground balls, and four tied for the team lead with two caused turnovers. Austin Sroda took all 19 faceoffs for the Lakers, winning six of them. Seamus Hand earned the win in the crease, making 15 saves on 22 shots on target.
The orange and blue came out refreshed and hungry, taking the first lead of the game of an unassisted goal by Considine 59 seconds after the opening faceoff. The 1-0 score held throughout much of the remaining quarter, as the Lakers struck back 10:02 later, off a goal by Jones and an assist by Elston. Oswego took a lead of their own, with Elston netting a man-up goal with 1:54 remaining in the frame. An assist came from Starowicz on the score, the final of the first quarter.
Elston continued to produce for the Lakers, netting his second goal of the game 58 seconds into the second quarter to give Oswego a 3-1 lead. Reid struck back for Utica to cut the Laker Lead down to one, netting a goal with 10:38 left in the second frame, off an assist by Hunt. Dunn, a freshman, netted his second goal of the year 5:42 later, with Hunt adding an assist for a second consecutive goal. Hunt scored himself with 2:22 remaining to establish a 4-3 Pioneer lead, extending his goal streak that began in the season opener. Leclair responded 34 seconds later to even the score, with Elston assisting and adding his fourth point of the game. The Pioneers struck back even quicker, as Erickson scored off a Donahue assist just 26 seconds after play resumed, with 1:22 left in the half. The flurry of scoring ended there, allowing Utica to enter halftime with a 5-4 lead.
It took 5:40 of play in the second half for either team to break through, with Elston completing his hat trick on the man advantage, with credit for an assist to Starowicz, his second. Starowicz assisted on a third goal with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter, on a goal by Postel to give the hosts a 6-5 lead. The score held through the frame, giving Oswego the one-goal lead entering the final 15 minutes.
The Lakers extended their lead with two quick scores at the 13:03 and 12:38 marks of the quarter. Coney netted the first Oswego score of the frame, off an assist by Jones, who then netted the second goal himself. Considine worked the Pioneers back into the game as time ran down, scoring unassisted goals with 6:57 and 1:48 remaining to put the Pioneers within one. Utica had a late opportunity after a timeout with 1:21 left, but a successful Laker clear with 35 seconds left, followed by two Pioneer penalties, closed out the 8-7 final in favor of Oswego State.
Utica will finish out an early-season road stretch on Saturday, March 21st, when they travel to take on the Misericordia University Cougars. The opening faceoff in that contest is set for 1:00 pm. The orange and blue are set to return to Gaetano Stadium on Wednesday, March 25th, for a matchup with SUNY Morrisville.
