Score: Utica College 20, Elmira College 7
Records: Utica (10-6, 4-4 E8), Elmira (1-12, 1-7 E8)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. -- Campus Field

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's lacrosse team was handed a 20-7 Empire 8 Conference loss by the Utica Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at Campus Field in the 2017 regular-season finale. Prior to the final contest of their careers, EC honored its seven senior players as part of Class of 2017 Recognition Day.

The opening quarter was the lowest-scoring period of the contest, thanks in part to the effort of senior netminder Cameron Prior '17. In his last collegiate game, the Malden, Massachusetts, native made 10 of his 26 saves in the first quarter and limited the Utica offense to just one goal in the first nine-plus minutes. The Pioneers, however, started to ramp things up in their offensive zone with a pair of goals in the final 1:16 of the period, which extended their lead to 4-0.

The Soaring Eagles looked to chip away the Utica lead in the second quarter. After senior Wyatt Katsos '17 bounced a shot past the Pioneer goalie, UC's Nicholas Horne was assessed one of the game's many penalties, giving the Purple and Gold a man-up opportunity and a prime chance to come within two goals of the lead. However, the Pioneers won the ensuing faceoff and needed only 18 seconds to tally a man-down goal and regain a four-goal lead at 5-1.

That shorthanded goal, scored by Jake Bratek, sparked what turned into a 10-0 Utica run, allowing the Pioneers to pull ahead by a lopsided 14-1 score early in the third quarter. EC broke the scoreless drought at the 11:35 mark of the third by making the Pioneers pay for a turnover in their defensive half of the field. After Rusty Dessert dropped a pass just inside the midfield stripe, Adam Newhard '20 collected the loose ball and found Anthony LaRusso '17 unmarked on the left-wing side. LaRusso tickled the twine by sniping the upper right corner of the net. Just over three minutes later, Katsos rifled a man-up goal inside the lower right corner, reducing Utica's lead to 15-3.

The Soaring Eagles tallied four times in the final period. Nevin Olney '18 buried both of his unassisted scores in the fourth quarter, and Katsos completed his hat trick with another man-up goal. With only 23 ticks left on the clock, Colby Runk '18 completed a transition play by carrying the ball down the right wing into the offensive zone, dusting his defender with a spin move, and depositing inside the far post.

Turning Point
Special teams played a large role in the 2017 regular-season finale, especially since the two sides combined for 25 penalties worth 20 minutes in the box. Not only did the Pioneers score three times on eight man-up chances, but they cashed in with three additional shorthanded goals. Meanwhile, EC, which was awarded 12 total extra-man opportunities, managed to score just twice with the extra attacker.

Inside the Box Score

• The Pioneers owned a 75-to-35 lead in shots and a 46-to-21 advantage in shots on goal.
• Elmira committed 35 turnovers, while Utica totaled 31.
• EC went 19-for-41 on clear attempts and the Pioneers were 22-for-25.
• Ground balls finished in favor of Utica, 76-to-56.
• The Pioneers won the faceoff battle, 25-to-5.
• Elmira finished the game 2-for-12 on extra-man opportunities, while Utica went 3-for-8.
• Both Katsos and Olney completed the contest with a team-high three points.
• Katsos tallied three goals in the game, while Olney recorded two goals and one assist.
• Olney scooped up a game-high 12 ground balls.
• LaRusso posted two points with one goal and one assist.
• Runk rounded out EC's goal scorers with his fourth-quarter tally.
• Newhard recorded one assist in the bout.
• Senior Jordan Robertson '17 picked up six ground balls.
• Prior posted 26 saves between the pipes for Elmira.
• Utica's Dominic Castiglia led all players with a game-high six goals.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles conclude the 2017 season with a 1-12 overall record and a 1-7 standing in E8 play.
• Elmira registered season highs with 19 caused turnovers and 56 ground balls.
• With three points, Olney finishes the season with a team-leading and career-high 22 points (18g, 4a).
• Olney's 12 ground balls are a career high and the most by a Soaring Eagle since AJ Bourdon '16 picked
• up 12 against Alfred State on April 2, 2016.
• LaRusso established a new career high in points with 21 (18g, 3a).  
• Katsos tied a single-game career high with three goals.
• Newhard's earned his first career point with an assist.
• Prior's 26 saves are his second-highest total of his senior season.
• Robertson's six ground balls are a career high.