UTICA, NY – Senior Jake Lynch (Whitney Point, NY/Whitney Point) netted nine goals as the Alfred University men's lacrosse team beat host Utica College Saturday afternoon, 23-5. Lynch's nine goals is tied for most in a game, a record he set last year against SUNY Canton as well as tying Peter Colburn in '95 and Jay Morris in '80. With the win, Alfred clinches a berth into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.
 
The Saxons (9-6, 5-2 Empire 8) were also led by junior Joe Fornataro (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) with eight points (five goals, three assists) and sophomore Jake McNaney (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) with five points (two goals, three assists). Senior Samuel DiRisio (Prattsburgh, NY/Penn Yan) also scored two goals while juniors Anthony Ricottilli (Cortland, NY/Cortland), Frank Gavigan (Yorktown, NY/Yorktown), Kyle Landrigan (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) and first-years Joey Carra III (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Jon Waugh (Hamburg, NY/Bishop Timon) rounded out the scoring for Alfred as they each scored one goal.
 
"We practiced well all week and it showed today," said Head Coach Jason Lockner. "We have been stressing the importance of consistency in practices. [Jake] Lynch and [Joe] Fornataro shot well and [Garrette] Briggs got a lot of possessions. [Chris] Doktor played very well in goal for us today. This team is playing well at the right time!"
 
Sophomore Garrette Briggs (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) led the way in picking up loose balls, grabbing 15 ground balls. Senior David LaSpina (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and first-year Jeremiah Kinner (Bath, NY/Haverling) chipped in with six ground balls while sophomore Shane Weber (Hull, MA/Hull) added five ground balls. Kinner added a game-high four caused turnovers as well.
 
Briggs continued his dominance in the face-off circle, winning 25-of-30 attempts.
 
Senior Chris Doktor (Irondequoit, NY/Irondequoit) earned the win in net, making five saves in 44 minutes of action. Sophomore Ben Yonko (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) played 8:42 in net while junior Brandon Smith (Queens, NY/The Governor's Academy) played the remaining 7:17, making three saves.
 
The Saxons are next in action on Wednesday, May 2^nd, to take on the No. 2 seeded St. John Fisher College at Fihser in the semi-finals of the Empire 8 Tournament at 4 PM.