PLATTSBURGH, NY - Utica University's men's lacrosse team began a three-game road stretch in its early season, traveling to Plattsburgh State to take on the Cardinals. The Pioneers took the tightly contested battle 10-9, with the game tied seven separate times. This marked the first win of the season for Utica and the first defeat for Plattsburgh. The orange and blue will look to carry momentum through spring break when they return to action in a March 18th matchup at Oswego State.

Seven separate Pioneers scored a goal in the contest, with junior Lucas Donahue (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) scoring four. Donahue was the only multi-goal scorer for Utica, joining Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully), Ryan Hollenback, Quinn Orsini (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Logan Waterman (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy), Ethan Hunt (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), and Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) with one each. Reid and Hollenback each added one assist, the only goal scorers to do so. The captainly combo of Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) and Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) each added two assists, followed by Michael Mecca (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) with one. Colin Musso (Auburn, NY/Auburn) led the team with six ground balls, followed by faceoff specialists Nappi and Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles), who each had four. The two specialists had an elite day the the faceoff X, with each winning nine draws, Bourcy in 11 attempts, and Nappi in 12. Junior defenseman Aaron Bergquist (Brewerton, NY/Central Square) led the Pioneers with three caused turnovers, followed by Bourcy and Hunt with two each. Senior Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) backstopped the Pioneers to his first win of the season, and second of his career, making 13 saves on 22 shots on goal.

Plattsburgh played a competitive game, even outshooting Utica 22-18. The Cardinal offense was led by Dylan Ruland's three goals and Ethan Francey's two as the only multi-goal scorers. Tim Keenan, Peter Urso, Connor Wiggins, and Steve Fenner each added one. Keenan added one assist as well, joining Jamie Gipe (two) as the only other Plattsburgh player with a helper. Fynn Whitlock and Timmy Wood each pulled in six ground balls to lead the home team, followed by Francey and Gipe with four apiece. Cole Orehosky played between the pipes for the Cardinals, saving eight shots.

Utica controlled the first two minutes of play before the Cardinals cleared the ball and scored the first of the day. Ruland took a long-range shot while crossing the top of the restraining box to take a 1-0 home lead 2:36 into play. Just under a minute later, Hollenbeck responded with his first of the season to even the score. Plattsburgh struck next with 8:53 remaining in the frame. The Cardinals were applying pressure near the crease, with Gipe, an attackman, picking up a wide shot still in play. He passed to Keenan near the top of the box, who stepped in and netted another go-ahead goal. Utica continued the back-and-forth run, with Waterman taking a step-down shot courtesy of a pass from Erickson. The home squad took the lead again with 3:52 remaining in the quarter. A Plattsburgh pass from behind the net reached the stick of Wiggins, who made moves to find some open space, and netted his first collegiate goal. The orange and blue defense stood tall through the remaining time, including two man-down stands, to close the first 15:00 3-2 Plattsburgh.

1:12 into the second quarter, the Pioneers responded to again reeven the score. An errant pass by Plattsburgh's offense led to a quick transition play for Utica's offense. Mecca picked up the ball, passing to Hunt, who quickly ran to the crease to net a score, marking his third straight game scoring since joining the Pioneers. Just as a penalty expired, the Pioneers took their first lead of the game with 10:24 remaining in the frame. The man-advantage was crucial to the offense, as multiple passes gave Donahue an opening to score his fourth of the season. On the ensuing faceoff, a quick win for Nappi allowed him to cut straight towards the goal, scoring his first of the season nine seconds after Donahue. The Cardinals cut the lead back to one with 6:40 remaining. A saved Plattsburgh shot led to a ground-ball scramble involving many players. Francey picked up the loose ball for the home squad, throwing a close-range shot on net as he went spinning to the ground. The next 4:35 was played scoreless until seconds after the Pioneers successfully killed a two-man down situation. As the teams were settling back into even-strength play, a low long-range shot by Ruland evened the score at 5-5. With 1:10 remaining in the frame, Donahue netted his second of the game to give Utica a 6-5 lead entering halftime.

The Cardinals struck first in the third quarter, with Fenner netting his fifth of the season. He made a hard cut to the right from outside the restraining box, taking a shot on the upper-level part of the goal to make the score 6-6 3:22 into the second half. Orsini reestablished the lead for the Pioneers just 1:11 later, taking a shot as he came out of a spinning dodge past a Plattsburgh defender. The Cardinals continued to counterpunch, making the score 7-7 with 9:12 remaining in the quarter off a low bounce shot by Francey. With exactly 6:00 left on the clock, Donahue completed his hat trick by making a hard cut down the left side of the field and taking a shot that the Cardinal goalie found part of, but could not stop from sneaking across the goal line. Both squads played the remainder of the frame scoreless, as both goaltenders made saves on several high-danger opportunities.

Plattsburgh stuck first again in the final quarter, making the score 8-8 1:05 into the final 15 minutes. The Cardinals controlled a settled offense, starting a quick 1-2-3 passing play, with Gipe finding Ruland on the crease for a hat trick. Just 51 seconds later, Reid rocketed a shot from long range to strike back for the Pioneers, coming off a pass by Hollenbeck. The Pioneers took their second two-goal lead of the game with 5:28 remaining. Reid made a pass to Donahue near the crease, allowing him to net his fourth of the game. With 2:17 remaining, the home squad responded to bring them back within in. After inbounding an off-target Cardinal shot, Urso cut hard upfield, finding an edge and rounding in front of the Pioneer net to make the score 10-9. Utica withstood the remaining Plattsburgh attempts to close out the 10-9 final score.

With the university entering spring break, the Pioneers will also take a week and a half off before their next matchup with the Oswego State Lakers. Action is slated for 4:00 pm on March 18th at Oswego's Laker Turf Stadium. The squad will have one more road game on the 21st before returning to home turf in a March 25th matchup with SUNY Morrisville.