Box Score GEORGETOWN, TX – The Alfred University men's lacrosse team (3-1, Empire 8 0-0) surged on offense en route to its 17-12 win against Southwestern University during their second Spring Break game on Wednesday evening.
 
Junior Joe Fornataro (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) paced the Saxons with five goals in the game. Sophomore Jake McNaney (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) and junior Anthony Ricottilli (Cortland, NY/Cortland) chipped in with a hat trick each during the game. McNaney tied his season total from 2017 while Ricottilli shattered his 2017 total (1 goal).
 
Fornataro opened the game on fire, scoring the first two goals and assisting the next, scored by McNaney. However, the Pirates bounced back with four-straight goals to close the first quarter, nabbing the lead 4-3.
 
Fornataro knotted the game up in the opening minutes of the second quarter before both teams rattled off three goals each to take the game to 7-7 at the break. Ricottilli, junior Frank Gavigan (Yorktown, NY/Yorktown) and Fornataro scored in order for the Saxons.
 
Ricottilli scored the first two goals of the second half, giving AU the 9-7 advantage before Southwestern answered with two goals of its own. Senior Jake Lynch (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) jumped in on the scoring, converting on a man-down situation. He netted another goal before the third quarter closed with the Saxons on top, 11-10.
 
AU created space by scoring the opening four goals of the fourth quarter coming from senior Allen Vitale (Rochester, NY/Brighton), McNaney, Fornataro and McNaney, respectively. Junior Kyle Landrigan (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) and senior Samuel DiRisio (Prattsburgh, NY/Penn Yan) netted their first goals of the season down the stretch, sealing the game for AU, 17-12.
 
Sophomore Garrette Briggs (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) went 23-of-32 (71.9%) on faceoffs while grabbing 12 groundballs. Ricottilli, Fornataro and senior David LaSpina (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) chipped in with five groundballs each. Sophomore Ben Cafolla (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) and Fornataro led the team with two caused turnovers each.
 
Senior Drew Gardner (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) played the entire game in net, making 13 saves on 25 shots faced.
 
The Saxons held an advantage in faceoffs won (23-9), shots (55-33), shots on goal (31-25), groundballs (52-31) and man-up goals (3-2).
 
"The guys played with heart tonight, playing great in the fourth quarter," Head Coach Jason Lockner said. "Our faceoff unit continues to dominate. Briggs, LaSpina, Gavigan and Shane Weber (Hull, MA/Hull) are playing well. Our offense got on track tonight. Offenses usually take time to develop, especially after graduation of players like we had last year. Lynch and Fornataro stepped up to lead the way today."
 
The Saxons close out their Spring Break trip to Texas when they face the University of Dallas on Friday, March 9 at 3:30PM (CST).