UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's lacrosse team is set to wrap up its home slate of the 2026 regular season. On Wednesday, April 15th, the Russell Sage College Gators will come to Gaetano Stadium for a 4:00 pm scheduled matchup. On Saturday, the 18th, the orange and blue will host Alfred University for the squad's senior day, with the opening faceoff set for 1:00 pm.

Follow Along: The video stream for both games can be found HERE, with live stats available for both HERE.

Last Week's Recap: Utica went 2-0 on the week, extending its conference momentum with a pair of double-digit offensive performances. The Pioneers opened with a 17-10 road win over SUNY Poly, using a dominant first half to seize control. Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) led the way with a nine-point outing (4g, 5a), while Lucas Donahue (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) poured in six goals and added an assist. Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully) chipped in a hat trick, and Danny Dunn (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) added three points as Utica built an 11-3 halftime lead and never looked back. The Pioneers controlled possession throughout, holding a 22-8 edge at the faceoff X and a 37-25 advantage in ground balls, while E8 Co-Defensive Player of the Week Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) anchored the defense with 13 saves.

The Pioneers carried that momentum into a 12-8 home victory over SUNY Brockport, highlighted by strong starts and finishes. Utica scored five times in the opening quarter and added four more in the fourth to secure its third straight Empire 8 win. Considine again paced a balanced offense with four points (2g, 2a), while Reid, Dunn, Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union), and Ryan Hollenbeck (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker) each recorded three-point efforts. Donahue added a pair of goals, and Logan Waterman (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) also found the back of the net. Bowen turned in another steady performance with 11 saves, helping Utica withstand a third-quarter push and pull away late

Record Check Ins: Several Pioneers have played at high levels over the 2026 season, with some within range of breaking into the single-season record book. Offensively, Considine is the name to watch, leading the team with 46 total points, just one of two Pioneers with 17+. He has earned 4.18 points per game, which would rank 5th all-time and place him in the top three in total points if he continues at the same pace. In the assist count, Considine would already tie for 11th best if the season ended today with his 23 assists, but his 2.09 assist per game average would rank third. If he continues to pace out at 2.09, he would end with roughly 31 assists, which would rank second. The current assist record is 33, within reach if Considine can turn up the heat in the remaining games.

Another key spot to watch is Utica's faceoff tandem, Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) and Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles). Both players have won at a 62.7% rate: Nappi going 89-of-142, and Bourcy winning 69-of-110. The same percentage would have the two tied for the 9th- and 10th-best seasons among players with a minimum of 10 faceoffs, but the third- and fourth-highest among 50+ faceoff seasons. Nappi and Bourcy will attempt to climb in the final weeks, looking to join a group of just seven players to win 65% or more, or just one of two above 70% (min. 10 FOs).

Getting to Know the Gators: Russell Sage has played the lightest schedule in the E8, posting a 3-5 overall record, the only team in the conference with less than 11 games played. The Gators started the season with a 7-6 OT win over Mount St. Mary College before back-to-back losses to SUNY Morrisville (17-5) and Alfred University (21-4). The team's second win came in another seven-goal game, this time over Albertus Magnus, 7-5, on March 25th. After the win, Russell Sage took tough E8 losses to St. John Fisher (29-2), SUNY Geneseo (22-2), and Hartwick (18-5). The team carries momentum from their first conference win of the season in their most recent game, a 10-8 victory over Keuka.

The Gator offense has seen many contributors, but few consistent weapons. 13 Russell Sage players have recorded a point, just six of them with multiple, and just three with more than three total points. Senior attackman Mame Diba leads the team with 16 goals and 19 points. The sophomore midfield duo of Carson Pesce and Doan Sangare has also been a frequent mention on the scoresheet, with Pesce turning in nine goals and a team-high five assists while Sangare has netted five and helped on two. Senior defender Brady Dubay leads the squad with 12 caused turnovers, the only Gator with 10+. Russell Sage has used two primary faceoff men, with Gamo Koulibaly winning 31-of-101 and Ryan Blake winning 37-of-86. Sophomore goalie and captain Jordon Hankel has posted a .527 save percentage and a 15.47 goals allowed average through 476:58 of play, while also leading the team with 38 ground balls.

All About Alfred: The Alfred University Saxons have posted a 7-5 overall record in 2026, with a 3-2 Empire 8 record. The squad entered E8 play with a 4-3 record against non-conference opponents, highlighted by games like their 25-7 win over Alfred State and 15-5 win over SUNY Canton. The team's conference slate began with a 21-4 win over Russell Sage and a 23-3 win over Keuka. The Saxons then fell to St. John Fisher 20-3, defeated SUNY Brockport 8-7, and lost to Hartwick 18-14 in their most recent game. On Wednesday, the 15th, they will also face Nazareth University at home.

Senior attackman Cole Loewke has been a one-man wrecking crew for Alfred, posting 73 total points, 28 more than his next highest teammate. To achieve the total, he has posted 48 goals and 25 assists, both team highs. Senior Brendan Riley (27g, 18a) and junior Michael Gruin (15g, 20a) have been other major contributors, joining Loewke as the only other player to reach 30+ points. Defensemen Nicholas Kramer and Ben Cunningham have been key members of the back line, putting up nearly identical stat lines. Kramer leads the team with 15 caused turnovers while also pulling in 29 ground balls, while Cunningham has caused 14 turnovers but scooped 30 ground balls. Senior Hunter Cupp has taken a heavy majority of Alfred's faceoffs, winning 202-of-256 and leading the team with 140 ground balls, nearly triple the team's second-highest player. The Saxons have used an underclassmen goaltending tandem in 2026, with sophomore Max Sigmund earning a .493 save percentage and a 9.48 goals allowed average in 455:48 of play, while freshman Alex Petrangelo has played to a .484 save percentage and an 11.52 goals allowed average.

Up Next: The Pioneers will close out their 2026 regular season next week in two road games. On Wednesday, April 22nd, Utica will face Hartwick at 4:00 pm. The final game of the regular season will take place on Saturday, April 25th, when the Pioneers take on SUNY Geneseo. If the orange and blue can retain a spot within the top six in the E8, they will punch a ticket to the conference postseason tournament, earning a bye with a first or second seeding, and clinching a first-round home game by placing third or fourth.