ALFRED, NY – Visiting Nazareth College defeated the Alfred University men's lacrosse team, 19-9, Wednesday afternoon at Yunevich Stadium.
 
Alfred struck first, with sophomore attack Joe Fornataro (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) scoring on an assist from senior midfielder Matt Zandri (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville) to give the Saxons a 1-0 lead 2:44 into the opening period.
 
Nazareth scored the next four goals before AU freshman midfielder Jake McNaney (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) scored on an assist from junior midfielder Brett McMichael (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan) with 3:49 left in the frame to make it 5-2.
 
The Golden Flyers scored twice to end the opening period and led 6-2 heading into the second. AU freshman defender Shane Weber (Hull, MA/Hull) netted an unassisted goal to open the scoring in the second period and AU tallied two more goals — both by McMichael and assisted by Fortnataro — to trail 8-5 at the half.
 
Nazareth (5-6, 2-1 E8) pulled away in the third, outscoring AU 8-3 in the period, then put the contest away with a 3-1 scoring advantage in the final frame.
 
McMichael finished with four goals and a pair of assists to pace AU (4-5, 0-3 E8). Fornataro, Weber, McNaney, Zandri and sophomore midfielder Kyle Landrigan (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) each had a goal for the Saxons.
 
Junior Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) started in goal for the Saxons and took the loss, going 58:23 and allowing 19 goals while making 10 saves. Sophomore Brandon Smith (Queens, NY/The Governor's Academy) played the final 1:37 in net and was not called upon to make a save.
 
AU is in action next on Saturday, April 8, at 4 p.m. at Empire 8 foe Utica.