UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's lacrosse team made the most of a midweek Empire 8 matchup at Gaetano Stadium, rolling past Russell Sage College 18-4 on Wednesday night. The hosts outshot the Gators 47-9, scoring each of the first 12 goals to hold stifling pressure throughout the contest. The Pioneers improved to 5-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while the Gators slipped to 3-6 and 1-5 in the Empire 8.

Thirteen different Pioneers registered goals in the win, with two players turning in hat-trick-level production to spark the attack. Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) and Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) each found the back of the net three times, with Considine adding a game-best five assists for an eight-point outing. Shea chipped in two helpers of his own to close with five points, while Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn), Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully), and Ryan Hollenbeck (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker) all notched multi-point performances. Additional goals came from Michael Mecca (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside), Connor Gorton (Middlesex, NY/Marcus Whitman), Mason Little (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), James McDonald (Porters Corners, NY/Albany Academy), Danny Dunn (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Jarrett Sherman (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), Elijah Lowder (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Colin Musso (Auburn, NY/Auburn) as Utica's depth chart shined across the stat sheet. Aaron Bergquist (Brewerton, NY/Central Square) and Hollenbeck each dished one assist to round out the Pioneers' playmakers.

Utica controlled the game in every phase, owning a 72-19 advantage in total shots and a 47-25 edge in ground balls while committing just ten turnovers. The Pioneers were efficient in transition, going 23-24 on clears. Cade Bourcy (Syracuse, NY/Skaneateles) (7-8), Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) (5-9), Jason Torres (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) (1-6), and Jack Caruso (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) (1-3) all battled at the faceoff X. Defensively, ten Pioneers were credited with at least one caused turnover, Nappi, Bergquist, and Colin Musso (Auburn, NY/Auburn) collecting two a piece. The group limited Russell Sage to just nine shots on goal in the game. The attack consistently regained possession to keep pressure on, with Considine (eight) and Shea (six) leading the game's ground ball count.

In goal, Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) backstopped the effort with five saves and just one goal allowed over 47:16, earning the win. Jack Rawleigh (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) entered for 8:41, allowing two goals, before Brendan Griffey (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) handled the final 4:03, allowing a goal on his only shot seen.

Four different Gators recorded goals, as Russell Sage accounted for all of its scoring in the final quarter. Dylan Baisley, Ryan Blake, Mame Dida, and Doan Sangare each scored once, with Blake and Carson Pesce supplying the team's two assists. Blake also paced the visitors at the X with a 6-15 line, joined by Gamo Koulibaly, who went 6-of-11. The two additionally tied for the team lead with four ground balls apiece. Russell Sage finished 17-25 on clears and went 1-for-2 on man-up opportunities. In the net, Jordan Hankel finished with 26 saves and 18 goals allowed in 56:31 of work before giving way to Andrew Cevallos for the final 3:29, who saved all three shots he faced. 

Utica steadily built its cushion with a 2-0 opening quarter before exploding for three goals in the second to carry a 7-0 lead into the locker room. Considine struck first at 7:00 of the opening frame, and Hollenbeck doubled the advantage with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter off a feed from Reid. The second period saw Considine bury his second of the night early assisted by Bergquist, followed by McDonald's first collegiate goal and a Reid tally set up by Erickson to make it 5-0.

The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas to open the third, rattling off seven unanswered goals to put the contest out of reach. Mecca started the second-half scoring at 14:37, and Gorton quickly followed off a Considine assist before Shea's three-goal outburst. Dunn scored his first of the game at 6:13 off a Considine assist and a Musso finish capped a 12-0 run with 5:46 left in the quarter. Russell Sage finally broke through in the fourth when Blake scored unassisted at 14:04, but Little answered just 26 seconds later off a Shea setup. 

The final frame turned into a back-and-forth as Utica continued to stack on goals while the Gators found a bit more rhythm on offense. Erickson netted twice in the fourth, including an unassisted goal at 8:53, while Lowder and Sherman added their firsts of the night and Considine completed his hat trick at 8:06 to push the marking to 17-2. Jarrett Sherman (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) capped the Utica scoring at 5:46 off a feed from Nolan Shea (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union). Russell Sage tacked on two late strikes from Baisley (extra-man) and Diba in the closing minutes to arrive at the 18-4 final.

The Pioneers will honor their seniors on Saturday, April 18th, at Gaetano Stadium against the Alfred University Saxons. The game marks the team's final home game of the regular season, as the Pioneers will look to push for a home playoff game in the closing weeks. The opening faceoff is set for 1:00 pm.