Men's Lacrosse | 4/22/2009 7:48:13 PM

Click For Box Score

UTICA, NY -- The RIT men's lacrosse snapped a two-game losing streak with a 17-7 win over Utica College in Empire 8 action on Wednesday afternoon. The win moves the Tigers to 9-5 overall and into fourth place in the Empire 8 conference with a 4-2 record. RIT is 9-0 all-time versus the Pioneers.

RIT out shot Utica 57-34 and won the ground ball battle 38-32. The Tigers won 15-of-28 face-offs, went 24-for-30 on clearing opportunities and were 3-for-10 on extra-man chances.

Ten different Tigers had a goal led by Iric Bressler (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) and Billy Walton (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) who each had four goals. Sean Gillies (Oakville, Ontario/Albany Academy) (Oakville, ON/Albany Academy) had a goal and two assists. David Burke (Fairport, NY/Fairport) (Fairport, NY) had a pair of goals and Chris Cherami (Olwick, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) (Olwick, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) had a goal and an assist.

Dan MacRae (Oakville, Ontario/Holy Trinity) (Oakville, ON/Holy Trinity) was dominant defensively for RIT, grabbing eight ground balls and causing six turnovers. #M.J. Kiekebelt# (Caledon, ON/St. Andrews College-Aurora) had six ground balls and Jimmy Walsh (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) had three ground balls.

Kevin Rattigan (Chicago, IL/Western Reserve Academy) (Chicago, IL/Western Reserve Academy) got the start allowing four goals and making eight saves. Rob Tonnessen (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) (Ridgefield, CT) played a little over 17 minutes allowing one goal and making four saves. Dan Wiatroski (Califon, NJ/West Morris Central) Califon, NJ/West Morris Central) played the final 7:27 and allowed two goals.

RIT took control in the first half, leading 10-3 at the half. The Tigers led 5-2 after the first quarter and scored five goals in the second quarter, while allowing just one goal.

The Tigers scored the first five goals of the game. Bressler scored two of his four goals in the opening quarter and Billy Walton (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham), Adam Lehmann (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) (Rochester, NY/McQuaid) and Cody Schroeder-Young (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) also scored for RIT.

RIT scored the first five goals of the second quarter, led by Walton who had two goals in the quarter. Kelso Davis (Freeport, ME/Deerfield Academy) (Freeport, ME/Deerfield Academy), Chris Cherami (Olwick, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and Alex Crepinsek (Oakville, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) (Mississauga, ON/St. Thomas Aquinas) also scored in the quarter.

The Tigers scored seven goals in the second half with runs of four and three goals respectively. Matt Lesczynski (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) tallied his first career goal for RIT with 6:36 remaining in the game.

RIT closes out the home portion of the regular season on Saturday, April 25 when they host cross-town rival Nazareth College at RIT Field. Game time is at 1:05 pm and can be seen on TWSN Channel 26.