ALFRED, NY—The Alfred University men's lacrosse team (8-3, E8 2-2) surged in the final three quarters to hand Utica College a 19-10 loss in Yunevich Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Jake Lynch (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) scored five goals and notched one assist. Seniors Tanner Morse (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post East) and Derek Bishopp (Livonia, NY/Livonia) netted a hat-trick each. Morse dished out two assists for the Saxons.
 
Junior John Winchell (Vestal, NY/Vestal) paced the Saxons with three assists and added two goals to the offensive effort. Freshman Joe Fornataro (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) had two goals and two assists while junior Nick Skibitsky (Williamsville, NY/Williamville East) had two goals and one assist.
 
Sophomore Samuel DiRisio (Prattsburgh, NY/Penn Yann) scored once for AU and freshman Peyton VanBibber (Canton, NY/H.C. Williams) netted his first intercollegiate career goal.
 
Utica was paced by Dominic Castiglia who scored a game-high six goals.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 3-1 lead less than seven minutes into the game, and outscored the Saxons 4-3 in the first quarter. Utica was first to score in the second stanza as well, however the Saxons dominated play for the remainder of the half, scoring six consecutive goals to take a 9-5 lead into the intermission.
 
Once again, the Pioneers were first to draw blood in the third quarter, but the Saxons quickly turned the tides and scored five consecutive goals to increase the lead to 14-6. Castiglia scored twice prior to the end of the third quarter, bringing Utica within six heading into the final quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter the Saxons pounded the offensive third of the field, scoring five more goals to the Pioneers' two, putting the game out of reach, 19-10.
 
AU outshot Utica 45-31 and put 31 shots on goal, compared to the Pioneers' 22. Additionally, the Saxons dominated possession on ground balls (43-30). 
 
Junior Jimmy Pratti (Slatehill, NY/Minisink Valley) won 19-of-27 faceoffs while sophomore David LaSpina (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) supplemented by winning 2-of-6 faceoffs. Pratti led AU with seven ground balls. Winchell posted a career-high with five ground balls in the game. Three more Saxons notched four ground balls each while Morse headed AU with two caused turnovers.
 
Time in goal was split three ways between sophomores Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) and Chris Doktor (Irondeqoit, NY/Greece Ridge) along with freshman Brandon Smith (Queens, NY/The Governor's Academy). Gardner played 45 minutes, making nine saves. Andrew DiOrio played the entire game in goal for the Pioneers, saving 12 shots and allowing 19 goals.
 
The Saxons remain in Empire 8 play as they travel to Elmira College on Saturday to take on the Soaring Eagles at 1PM.