UTICA, N.Y. (March 15, 2008) – Junior midfielder Matt Keating registered four goals and an assist in leading the Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team to a 10-3 win over Utica College on Saturday afternoon at the Charles A. Gaetano Stadium in Utica, N.Y. With the victory, the Ducks improved to 2-2 on the year. Stevens, which was playing its first-ever Empire 8 game, is now 1-0 in conference play. The Pioneers fell to 0-5 (0-1 Empire 8) with the loss.
Senior attacker John Dolny and sophomore attacker Daniel Prakopcyk finished with two goals apiece. Sophomore midfielder Bobby Steinhauser had a goal and an assist. He also won six faceoffs and collected a team-high six ground balls. Freshman attacker Joey Simone added a goal and an assist in the win.
Meanwhile, senior attacker/midfielder R.J. Ancona picked up two assists. Junior long-stick midfielder Chris Ford posted five ground balls and three caused turnovers. Freshman goalie Dave Decker recorded his second career victory as he made 13 saves in 56 minutes of action. Decker also had four ground balls.
Utica was led by freshman midfielder Ryan Schmidt (Whitesboro, N.Y.), who scored two goals. Senior goalie Paul Phelan (Liverpool, N.Y.) made 15 saves for the Pioneers.
Stevens started quickly and built a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Dolny got the Ducks going with a man-up goal with 9:33 remaining in the period. Just over four minutes later, Ancona found Dolny for his second goal of the game. Prakopcyk added a pair of goals in the span of seven seconds later in the quarter.
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter when Schmidt found the back of the net. Keating reestablished a four-goal lead (5-1) when he beat Phelan for an even-strength goal with 5:14 left before halftime. Keating picked up his second goal of the contest during an extra-man opportunity with nine seconds remaining in the quarter. That goal gave the Ducks a 6-1 lead at the break.
Stevens put the game out of reach with two more goals in the third quarter. First, Simone scored off a pass from Keating with just over four minutes to go in the period. Less than a minute later, Keating scored his third goal on a unassisted effort. The Ducks led 8-1 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Stevens owned out-shot Utica 45-25 and also held a 42-27 edge in ground balls. The Ducks were 19-for-27 (70.4 percent) in clearing attempts. The Pioneers converted on 60 percent (15-for-25) of their clears. Stevens was 2-for-10 in man-up situations and held Utica to 0-for-6 with an extra man. Through four games this season, the Ducks' man-down defense has been nothing short of remarkable as it has surrendered just two goals in 21 opportunities. That translates to a 9.5 percent conversion rate for opponents.
Coming up on Tuesday, Stevens will host Gordon College at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks will also be home next Saturday as they are slated to face Empire 8 foe Alfred University at 1 p.m.
