UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's lacrosse team is set to begin the program's second-ever appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament, challenging Hartwick College on the road tomorrow, April 28th. Opening draw at Wright Stadium is set for 4:00 pm. The Pioneers will look to avenge a heartbreaking loss from just a week ago, in addition to earning the program's first postseason win.

Follow Along: A video stream for the game can be found HERE, with live stats available HERE.

Last Time Out: Utica closed out its regular season with a 16-6 setback on the road against SUNY Geneseo, finishing the year 6-9 overall and 5-4 in Empire 8 play. Quinn Orsini (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) led the offense with two goals, while Ryan Considine (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) added a goal and an assist to pace a Pioneer attack that saw five different goal scorers. Michael Reid (Tully, NY/Tully), Aaron Bergquist (Brewerton, NY/Central Square), and Lucas Donahue (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) each found the back of the net, while Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) made eight saves in a full 60-minute effort in goal.

After trading early chances, Utica stayed within striking distance in the first quarter before a sustained Geneseo run created separation, as the Knights carried a 9-2 lead into halftime and continued to control possession behind a strong faceoff and ground ball edge. Donahue snapped a seven-goal run with a man-up tally in the third, and Orsini added his second late in the quarter, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. 

A Familiar Foe: The orange and blue battled in a tightly contested road matchup at Hartwick, ultimately coming up just short in a 14-13 result decided in the final 30 seconds. Considine led a balanced Pioneer offense with five points (1g, 4a), while Ryan Hollenbeck (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker) and Donahue each posted three goals and an assist. Reid and Noah Erickson (Auburn, NY/Auburn) added two goals apiece, as nine different Pioneers recorded a point in a game that featured constant momentum swings.

The Pioneers built a 9-7 halftime lead behind multiple scoring runs and strong faceoff play from Chase Nappi (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), who dominated at the X and controlled possession throughout. After extending the lead early in the third, Utica saw Hartwick respond with a late surge to even the game heading into the fourth. The teams traded defensive stands before Hartwick found a go-ahead goal inside the final minute, answering a Donahue equalizer with 1:38 remaining. Despite outshooting the Hawks 53-46 and winning the faceoff battle 21-9, Utica was unable to generate a final chance, setting up a postseason rematch between the two programs.

The Tournament Layout: Six of 10 teams in the conference qualify for the Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. Nazareth secured the #1 seed with a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play, followed by St. John Fisher at #2 after going 8-1. Both teams earn first-round byes and will host semifinal matchups on Thursday. SUNY Geneseo claimed the #3 seed at 7-2, while Hartwick (5-4) slid into the #4 spot to host a first-round game. Utica (5-4) earned the #5 seed and will travel to face Hartwick in the opening round, while Alfred (4-5) rounds out the field at #6. The Pioneers will look to build their postseason experience as they head into the program's second Empire 8 Tournament appearance. 

Hawk's Eye View: Hartwick's 2026 campaign has followed a tale of two stretches, opening the season with nine consecutive losses against a challenging slate that included several Empire 8 contenders. After losing their opening three games in the conference, the Hawks found their stride, winning five straight to put themselves right back into postseason contention. The squad's regular season concluded in a 24-7 defeat by St. John Fisher to bring the Hawks to 5-10 overall and 5-4 within the E8.

Senior Colin August has been a dominant player all over the field for Hartwick, leading the team in goals (57), points (61), ground balls (63), and caused turnovers (27). Classmate Liam McManus has contributed the second-most points (46) via 30 goals and a team-high 16 assists. Between the pipes, junior Kaiden Johnson has played 588:54, posting a .517 save percentage and a 15.59 goals allowed average.

Up Next: The Pioneers now shift into "win or go home" mode, needing to win each game to keep advancing. The winner of the Utica/Hartwick matchup will continue their run at Nazareth on Thursday. Be sure to follow Utica Athletics on social media and check uticapioneers.com for up-to-date postseason information as it is available.