St. Lawrence hands Utica season-opening loss
UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's lacrosse team dropped its season opener against visiting St. Lawrence University 11-4 on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. UC freshman
Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) led the way for the Pioneers with two goals in his collegiate debut while junior transfer
Patrick Mulligan (Commack, NY/Commack) added two assists in his first game in the orange and blue.
The Pioneers snapped a four game season-opening win streak and they will return to action on the road Saturday when they travel to nearby SUNY Polytechnic Institute to take on the Wildcats at 1 p.m. St. Lawrence, which is receiving votes in the latest USILA National Poll, improved to 2-0 overall on the year.
The Saints were led by seven points from Jeremy Vautour (three goals, four assists) and five points from Tommy Hovey (three goals, two assists).
Both team exchanged blows in the first 15 minutes of action and the visitors led 3-2 after the first quarter of play.
Liam Wheatley (Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Desveaux each posted a first quarter goal for the Pioneers. Each of Utica's first two goals were assisted by Mulligan.
St. Lawrence outscored Utica 4-1 in the second quarter to take a 6-3 lead into the half. Desveaux netted his second goal of the game with 4:30 left in the second quarter.
Alex Finnegan (Bay Shore, NY/Islip) assisted on Desveaux's second quarter tally.
The Saints then tacked on two more goals in the third frame to take a five goal advantage into the final quarter.
Matthew Miller (Geneva, NY/Geneva) netted his first goal as a Pioneer to open up the fourth quarter scoring, but that would be as close as the Pioneers would get. St. Lawrence outscored UC 3-0 in the final 12:04 of action to earn the seven goal victory.
Utica goalie
Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, NY/CW Post) stopped nine shots and added three ground balls on the afternoon. Senior face-off man
Zack Stevenson (Elbridge, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) posted an 11-for-19 effort in the face-off circle and he also scooped up a team-best seven ground balls. Senior
Matt Werkmeister (Chaska, MN/Chaska) added a team-best three caused turnovers.
Utica defenders
Sean Flanagan (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and
Tom Byrne (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) combined for three caused turnovers and six ground balls for the Pioneers.
Nick Ford made eight stops in net for the Saints.
SLU outshot Utica 27-20 on the afternoon and earned a slim 24-23 advantage in the ground ball category.