Ithaca Handles Nazareth, 11-5
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men’s lacrosse team (7-3, 2-0 Empire 8) dominated visiting Nazareth (4-6, 1-1 Empire 8), 11-5, on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium.
The Bombers netted a pair of early goals before Nazareth surged to knot action, 2-2, as the first period came to a close. Ithaca powered to a 9-2 advantage while holding the Golden Flyers scoreless for over 32 minutes of play. Nazareth would tally three of the game’s final five goals to conclude all scoring as Ithaca remained undefeated in conference play.
Senior Devin Weinshank tallied three points to lead the Bombers with a pair of goals and one assist. Sophomore Jacob Long also added two scores, while seven others recorded one goal each. Freshman Matt Greenblatt won six faceoffs for the Blue & Gold and senior Brian DiBetta added five victories.
Senior Chris Duncan and junior Marc Roberts collected team-bests of four ground balls each.
Senior Brendan Green improved to 7-1 in cage for the Bombers. He made six saves on the day.
Ithaca outshot Nazareth, 39-22, held a 36-27 advantage in ground balls and won 11 faceoffs to the Golden Flyers’ nine.
Junior Adam Wacenske found DiBetta six minutes into the game to get scoring started. Roberts gathered a ground ball following a Will Kraus forced turnover and marched downfield to net his first career goal and give the Bombers a 2-0 lead. Nazareth rewrote Ithaca’s advantage with a pair of scores in an eight-second span to tie action, 2-2, at the end of the first.
Freshman James Manilla capitalized on a scramble in front of goal and went unassisted on a rebound from the goalie at 4:33 of the second, before Long tallied back-to-back scores to instate a three-goal Ithaca gap at the half.
The Bombers added to three unanswered from the second with four consecutive in the third. Sophomore Casey Schattner went unassisted at 12:41 before sophomore Pat Slawta found the crosse of senior Billy LaPerch for a 7-2 gap. Slawta followed with one of his own and Weinshank closed out the third in Ithaca’s favor, 9-2.
The squads twice exchanged scores in the fourth. Weinshank answered a Golden Flyer goal at the 10-minute mark. Nazareth brought the game within six, 10-4, but Greenblatt won the ensuing faceoff and darted to goal to tally his first collegiate score. Nazareth went on to finalize all scoring, 11-5, with 20 ticks lingering on the board.
Box Score