Pioneers Advance to the USCAA Classic Finals

The trio of Joe Johnson (Churchville), Teddy Alvarado (Hilton), and AJ Soto (Churcvhille) led the Alfred State lacrosse team to a 10-6 victory over SUNY Canton in the opening round of the USCAA Classic.

Johnson scored three times in the first 12 minutes of the game to give the Pioneers the early lead. Soto picked up two of the assists while Tanner Morrow (Grand Island) picked up the other.

A pair of Roo goals cut the lead to 3-2 but Johnson scored his 4th with 12:37 remaining after getting a pass from Soto. Soto scored with 8:40 left in the half and the Pioneers led 5-2 at the break.

Canton scored three of the first four goals of the 2nd half to cut the lead to 6-5. Alvarado netted his first goal of the game during that stretch. Alvarado found the back of the net with 10:04 remaining to start a 4-0 run the sealed the victory. Soto and Branden Dickson (Bath) also scored before Alvarado capped his hat trick with 3:47 remaining. The Roos scored once more but couldn't get any closer.

Johnson finished the day with four goals and now has over 100 points for his career. Soto finished with two goals and four assists while Alvarado had three goals and two assists. Morrow was 11 for 16 in the faceoff circle and led the team with 10 ground balls.

Trenton Yule led Canton with three goals and two assists while Andrew Garrett scored twice.

Ryan Amidon (Fayetteville Manlius) made eight saves in net for the victory while Kody Kocsis made 13 for the Kangaroos.

The Pioneers outshot Canton 41 to 22 on the day and picked up 34 ground balls compared to 28. 

With the victory the Pioneers have earned their second straight trip to the finals of the USCAA Classic. They will take on SUNY Delhi, a 11-7 winner over Dean (MA) College in the other first round game, in the championship at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Pioneers lost a tight 10-7 contest at Delhi earlier in the season.