At a glance
The Alfred State lacrosse team was able to come out on top of a close home contest for the first time this season. The Pioneers defeated #9 ranked Hudson Valley CC 11-10 to close out the season with a 7-9 mark. The Pioneers had lost four close home contests earlier in the season by a combined four goals.
The Alfred State lacrosse team was able to come out on top of a close home contest for the first time this season. The Pioneers defeated #9 ranked Hudson Valley CC 11-10 to close out the season with a 7-9 mark. The Pioneers had lost four close home contests earlier in the season by a combined four goals.
Hudson Valley (10-6) started the game off fast and led 4-2 after the 1st quarter led by four goals by Mason Agosto. The Pioneers fought back and took control of the contest with a strong 2nd quarter in which five players different players found the back of the net as Alfred outscored HVCC 6-2 to head into halftime leading 8-6.
The second half featured some great net minding by both Pioneer goalie Brad Stowell (Marcellus) and Andrew Reilly from HVCC. Stowell allowed just four goals in the 2nd half while making 18 saves while Reilly allowed just three goals while making 13 saves. The Pioneers led by as many as three in the half and the lead was only cut to one in the final minute. HVCC had two chances in the final seconds to tie the game up but could not get one past Stowell.
Jordan Napierala (West Irondequoit) led the offense with three goals and an assist while Mike Hart (Ajax, ONT) had two goals and two assists. Brad Zacher (Medina) had two goals and an assists, Chance Lowry (Waterloo) found the back of the net twice, and Lance Elithrope (Shaftsbury, VT) had a goal and an assist. Keegan Phelan (East Aurora) picked up a goal while Danny Weimer (Derby/Lake Shore) and Bradley Murdoch (Auburn) were credited with assists. Murdoch was also huge with 16 face-off wins and six ground balls.
The Pioneer defense allowed just six goals in the final three quarters. Stowell finished with 31 saves on the day.
Hart finishes his sophomore year with a team high 71 points on 42 goals and 29 assists while Stowell recorded 283 saves in over 840 minutes in action on the season in net.
The seven wins for the 2012 season is the most by a Pioneer lacrosse team since 2009 and the most during head coach Mark Kanellis' tenure.