Men's lacrosse clinches Empire 8 berth with win over Utica

By: Stephen Jaynes - Sports Information Director

Dylan Heuer

Jerry Ragonese won 18-of-21 draws, grabbed 10 ground balls and scored a goal as RIT defeated Utica 20-6 on Wednesday.

Men's Lacrosse | 4/28/2010 6:16:10 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men's lacrosse team clinched a berth in the Empire 8 Tournament with a 20-6 win over Utica College (5-9, 3-4 E8) on Wednesday afternoon. The 20 goals is the most by the Tigers this season as RIT improves to 10-5 overall and 5-2 in the Empire 8.

RIT remains in a tie for third in the Empire 8 standings with Stevens but the Tigers hold the tie-breaker over the Ducks.

After a slow start in the first quarter, the Tigers exploded for seven goals in the second quarter and led 10-2 at the half.

RIT scored five goals in the third quarter and five more in the fourth while holding the Pioneers to four total goals in the second half for the convincing win.

Senior Sean Gillies (Oakville, Ontario/Albany Academy) led RIT with five points on four goals and an assist in his final regular season game at RIT Field. Iric Bressler (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) had four points on three goals and an assist. Tyler Russell (Livonia, NY/Livonia) and Tanner King (Virginia Beach, VA/Corning East) each had three goals. Kelso Davis (Freeport, ME/Deerfield Academy) and Jordan MacIntosh (Oakville, ON/Holy Trinity) each had a pair of assists and #A.J. Tingle and (Camillus, NY/West Genesee)Adam Vlassis# had a goal and an assist apiece.

RIT's defense was stifling, forcing the Pioneers into 32 turnovers. Senior Josh Lewis (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) led RIT with three caused turnovers and four ground balls.

Jerry Ragonese (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) was dominant from the face-off "X" winning 18-of-21 draws and grabbing a game-high 10 ground balls. He also scored a goal. Ragonese is winning 62.0 percent of his face offs and leads RIT and the Empire 8 in ground balls.

Robert Tonnessen (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) picked up his eighth win of the season making three saves. Kevin Rattigan (Chicago, IL/Western Reserve Academy) came in in the third quarter and made three saves and Dan Waitroski finished up in the fourth quarter, making two saves.

RIT wraps up the regular season on Saturday, May against arch rival Nazareth College. Game time is at 1 pm in Pittsford, New York.