Pioneers Down Houghton for 1st NCAA Victory

The Alfred State lacrosse team went on a 6-1 run midway through the 2nd half en route to a 13-8 victory over Houghton on Tuesday.  The victory is the first for the Pioneers since moving to Division III of the NCAA.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead early behind two goals by Nate Spoor (Penn Yan), and goals by Keegan Phalen (East Aurora), David Ford (Elmont/Sewanhaka), and Andrew Delligatti (Bedford Hills/Fox Lane).

The Highlanders clawed back into the game by scoring six of the next seven goals over the next 25 minutes to tie the game at 6-6.

The Pioneers took over from that point scoring seven of the next nine goals to close.  Spoor scored three times, Delligati scored twice, while John Garbowski (Mohegan Lake) and Ford scored once.

The blue & gold held a 52 to 29 shot advantage in the game and won 18 of the 25 faceoffs in the game.

Spoor finished the contest with six goals and two assists while Delligatti chipped in three goals and two assists.  Ford had two goals and an assist, Phalen had a goal and two assists, and Garbowski picked up a goal and an assist.  Matt Chatfield (Myrtle Beach, SC) and Marc Hernandez (Mastic Beach/William Floyd) both picked up assists.  Ryan Amidon (Fayetteville Manlius) earned the win in goal with nine saves.

Paul Chapman led Houghton three goals and an assist while Sean Daigler had two goals and an assist.  Joshua Bailey netted two and Cameron Groff scored once.  Gabriel Browning made 20 saves in net.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday when they travel to Morrisville State for a 1 p.m. opening faceoff.