ALFRED, NY—The Alfred University men's lacrosse(1-0, E8 0-0) team opened the 2015 season on the right foot with a win over SUNY Brockprt, 9-8, at Yunevich Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore attacker John Winchell (Vestal, NY/Vestal) got out to a hot start for the season with a hat-trick to lead the Saxons over the Golden Eagles.  Senior Nicolas Wood (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) also chipped in for AU with two goals.
 
Alfred University jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter, keeping the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard.  Junior midfielder Tanner Morse (Corning, NY/Corning East) netted the first goal of the season for the Saxons only 3:06 into the game.  Sophomore Matt Zandri (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinville) cut in with the second goal on a pass from Morse.
 
The Saxons increased their lead even more early into the second quarter when Nate Bellis (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) found Winchell who beat the goalie for the first of his three goals.  Morse increased the lead to 4-0 seven minutes later, giving the Saxons a more breathing room.
 
Finally, Brockport got onto the board when Justin Cook found the back of the net for the Golden Eagles' first goal of the season.  However, the Saxons would continue to roll, accumulating two more goals on the back of an acrobatic goal by sophomore Nick Skibitsky (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville East) and Wood's first goal of the season.  Brockport would add one more goal before the half, sending the teams off the field with AU on top, 6-2.
 
It was Wood again, early in the third quarter, who found the back of the cage to increase the lead to 7-2.  The Golden Eagles quickly answered back with two goals to bring the game within three only ten seconds into the fourth quarter.  Attacker, Winchell, refused to let Brockport back into the game and scored his second goal of the day.  He would add one more goal only seven minutes later to complete the hat-trick. 
 
With 8:48 to go, AU was up, 9-5, but Brockport finally grabbed some momentum and made a move to attempt to take over the Saxons, scoring three times in the final two minutes.  The Golden Eagles' last goal came with 14 seconds left on the clock when Cook stormed toward the goal and beat the goalie.
 
Brockport won the ensuing faceoff and got the ball into the attacking zone, looking for a shot.  Finally, the ball came to Jake Giudice who slung a low, powerful shot on AU's freshman goalie, Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point).  Gardner quickly adjusted to the shot and deflected the ball away as time expired, holding the Golden Eagles at bay, 9-8.
 
Sophomore Jimmy Pratti (Minisink, NY/Minisink Valley) had a game-high six groundballs while winning eight faceoffs.  Patrick Durpree (Corning, NY/Corning East), Nolan Jessop (Churchville, NY/Churchville-Chili), Derek Bishopp (Livonia, NY/Livonia) and Morse all accumulated two caused turnovers on the afternoon.   Gardner completed the game with 14 saves.
 
Alfred University heads for a short hiatus, until they take on Hilbert College in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina March 9 as part of the men's lacrosse spring break slate.