Pioneers Tie School-Record for Wins; Winkler Breaks Single-Season Goal Mark in Win Over Elmira

Pioneers Tie School-Record for Wins; Winkler Breaks Single-Season Goal Mark in Win Over Elmira

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Utica, NY – The Utica College men’s lacrosse team poured in a season-high 20 goals, on its way to tying the program record for wins in a single season (eight), after a 20-16 victory over Elmira College in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.  Junior Ben Winkler netted a team-best seven goals as he broke the College’s single-season record for goals scored, surpassing 2005 graduate Matt Donaldson’s mark of 49 set back in 2004. Winkler currently has 64 points this season (52 goals, 12 assists) and he needs just one more point, with two regular season games remaining, to tie Donaldson’s single-season points record (65).

The Pioneers improved to 8-6 overall and they also moved to 3-3 overall in the Empire 8.  UC, playing in its final home game of the season, bid farewell seven seniors prior to the start of the contest.  The seniors included Wilson Mukrdechian, Oliver Barney, William Greeley, Mick Krajacic, Zachary Menapace, Joe Davis and Dennis Timmons.

UC will hits the road for its final two regular season contests, beginning with the second annual Contineer Cup matchup against cross-town rival Hamilton College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.  UC hopes for a conference victory on Saturday when it travels to St. John Fisher to take on the Cardinals at 1 p.m.

A huge factor in UC's success against Elmira on Saturday came in the first quarter of action as the Pioneers sprinted out to a 6-0 lead.  Winkler netted the first four goals of the contest, two of which were assisted by classmate Trent Thomas, to help UC earn a quick four goal cushion.

The Soaring Eagles came back strong in the second quarter, outscoring UC 6-5, to cut their deficit to 11-6 at the half.  Four of the first five goals in the second quarter were scored by the visitors, until Utica’s TJ Benson and Scott Baron found the back of the net less than one minute apart to push UC’s lead back to five goals, 9-4, midway through the stanza. 
Utica managed to score three of the first four goals in the second half to take a seven goal advantage, 14-7, after a Joe Schoen tally at the 6:09 mark.  Elmira’s Jackson Correia scored two straight goals in just under 1:30 of play and TJ White added his 22nd goal of the year to keep the Soaring Eagles within striking distance, 14-10, midway through the third quarter. Correia finished the day with seven goals.

However, it appeared that the Pioneers would have every answer, as they scored three goals in a span of 30 seconds, to extend their lead back to seven. 

EC made a late charge, scoring four of the game’s final five goals, but the clock ran out on the Soaring Eagle rally, and UC closed out its season at home with a four goal victory.  Both teams combined for 26 penalties in the 2 hour and 25 minute affair.   

10 different Pioneers registered at least one point. Schoen finished the day with four goals and one assist, while sophomore David Craig scored a career-best five points on two goals and three assists.  Benson finished with three goals and one assist, as Barney recorded three points and won 12 face-offs. 

All-Conference defender Mick Krajacic had the Soaring Eagles offense flustered all afternoon, as he caused nine turnovers, picked up six ground balls and added one assist.  Dennis Timmons chipped in on the defensive end with five ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Mukrdechian stopped three shots in the victory.  Scott Baron added two goals and one assist. 

Correia and TJ White each tallied eight points for Elmira, while Barrett Gast caused six turnovers and picked up six ground balls.