Men's Lacrosse Drops Final Non-Conference Game to Keuka

ELMIRA, NY - In another tough match-up the Soaring Eagles (2-10) battled valiantly, but eventually fell to the visiting Keuka College Storm (6-4) in what was their final non-conference game of the 2008 season Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.

Fourth year attackman Mike Szpiech ’08 (Hamilton, ONT -- Albany Academy) capped off the afternoon tying his career best 4 assists in a single game mark. This was the second time this season that Szpiech had recorded four assists in a contest.

The match initially started with Keuka’s Justin Pecori ending the scoreless draw at 13:02 in the first quarter. Going into the contest Pecori led the Storm in all offensive categories. With his hat trick and one assist in the contest, he now stands at 21 goals, 19 assists, for a season high 40 points.

EC’s Brandon Brennan ’08 (Manassas, VA -- Osbourn Park) earned the Purple and Gold their first mark on the scoreboard three minutes after Keuka’s. Unfortunately, EC would be held scoreless for almost the entire opening quarter, while the Storm were able to find the back of the Soaring Eagles cage five consecutive times going up 6-1 with less than a minute to play.

Dan Frost ’10 (Bow, NH -- Bow) closed out the first quarter with Elmira’s second goal of the afternoon. Assisting on the goal was Szpiech with only 4 seconds remaining. In the second quarter, EC set the tone in the opening minutes with an upper corner goal from Sean Slater ’08 (Ashland, MA -- Ashland) making 6-3 in favor of the Storm.

Overall the Soaring Eagles combined for 10 total shots in the quarter, forcing the Storm goalie Chad Green to come up with 5 of his eventual 8 saves. Keuka responded right back with a pair of goals adding some more distance between them and EC. Martin O’Brien ’11 (West Springfield, MA -- Winchendon School) ended the first half with his only goal of the afternoon.

Down by four, Elmira knew that they would have to step it up at both ends of the field to mount a successful comeback. It seemed as if though that was possible in third, as EC managed to keep Keuka off the scoreboard for the entire quarter.

Mike Bialick ’10 (Lebanon, NJ -- Westfield) earned the team’s only goal of the quarter on a man-up opportunity, making 8-5 with only one quarter remaining.

With the start of the fourth and final quarter, the Soaring Eagles found themselves only trailing by two in the opening minutes following a Slater man-up goal at 13:42.

However, a Keuka goal around the midway point and in the final four minutes took the air out of EC’s wings. The Storms defense also came through limiting EC to one final goal at 5:34 on the final man-up opportunity for Elmira.

Keuka’s Chris Sullivan would manage a game high 11 groundballs, as well as winning 11 of the 16 face-offs he took throughout the course of the afternoon. Dave Beriau ’09 (East Sandwich, MA -- Sandwich) earned a career high 7 groundballs for the Soaring Eagles.

Men’s Lacrosse returns to action this Tuesday, when they play host to nationally ranked Ithaca College in an Empire 8 Conference game. The opening face-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Campus Field.

Keuka College 10, Elmira College 7
Box Score 

Scoring: K-Justin Pecori 3, Jared Furnia 2, Chris Donohue 1, TJ Redka 1, Chris Sullivan 1, Drew Kunda 1, Adam Farrell 1; E-Sean Slater 2, Mike Bialick 1, Martin O’Brien 1, Brandon Brennan 1, Dan Frost 1, Ian Morgan-Janes 1

Assists: K-Jared Furnia 2, Chris Donohue 1, Justin Pecori 1, TJ Radka 1, Chris Sullivan 1; E-Mike Szpiech 4, Mike Bialick 1

Shots: K-31, E-25; Saves: K-Chad Green 8, E-Geoffrey Lane 3