Utica Defeats Houghton; Ithaca Falls to RIT
Utica College 23, Houghton 1
The Utica College men’s lacrosse team earned its most lopsided victory of the season Wednesday night by defeating host Houghton College 23-1. UC improved to 7-3 overall headed into a key showdown with conference foe and nationally-ranked No. 7 Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday (1 p.m.) in Hoboken, N.J. Utica now needs just one more win to tie the school-record for wins in a single season (also tied the school-record with eight wins last year).
The Pioneers’ 22 goal victory tied the third largest margin of victory in program-history and 23 goals is the most UC has scored in a single game since defeating Wells College 23-0 on March 25, 2009
14 different players scored at least one goal for the Pioneers. TJ Benson and Ben Winkler led the way with three goals apiece, while Jeff Pierce, Sean Behan, Trent Jacobs, Andrew Jamieson and Justin Edelstein each recorded two goals.
Houghton is currently a provisional member of the Empire 8 Conference (does not count as a conference game).
The Pioneers are now 4-1 on the road this season headed into Saturday’s matchup at Stevens.
RIT 13, Ithaca 6
The 17th-ranked Ithaca College men's lacrosse team (7-4) suffered a 13-6 setback to visiting fifth-ranked Rochester Institute of Technology (10-2) Wednesday at Higgins Stadium.
The Bombers, who were held to a season-low six scores, worked their way into an 8-2 deficit at the half. Ithaca went on to outscore the Tigers, 3-2, in the third before RIT put away the game with a 3-1 fourth-period. The game was delayed late in the fourth due to fog, but resumed promptly.
Senior
Andrew Bruce (Lafayette, Calif./De La Salle) netted the game's first before the Tigers tallied eight straight to gain control of the game. Sophomore
James Manilla (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport)scored his first of two at 4:35 to bring the game to 8-2 at the half.
The Tigers took a 10-2 gap to open the third, but three unanswered pulled Ithaca within 10-5 entering the fourth. Manilla secured his second before junior
Pat Slawta (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) went unassisted. One minute later Bruce scored on a
Ryan Burns (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch) assist.
Burns fed junior
Jake Long (Ft. Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) at 7:10 of the fourth to break up a trio of Tiger scores that closed out the game.
Junior
Brandon Henne (Port Washington, N.Y./Port Washington) won a career-high 12 faceoffs. Senior
Adam Wacenske (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) had a career- and game-best six ground balls in addition to a game-high three caused turnovers.
Freshman
Scott Sidnam (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) made 12 stops in goal for the Blue & Gold.
RIT owned the shot count, 44-35, and held a 42-28 margin in ground balls. Ithaca won 13 faceoffs to the Tigers' 10.
The Bombers return to Empire 8 action on Friday, April 12 hosting St. John Fisher at 7 p.m.