Rally Falls Short

The Alfred State lacrosse team could not fully rally as they fell 14-11 at Wells College on Wednesday evening. The Express scored the game's first four goals and led by 12-3 before the Pioneers rallied to get back in the game.

Four different Express players scored in the first 8:10 of the game. Eric Passeck (Thomaston, CT) scored the first of three straight for the Pioneers with 6:26 left in the quarter. Joe Johnson (Churchville Chili) scored with 3:00 left and Branden Dickson (Bath) made it 4-3 after the first 15 minutes with a goal with 1:36 remaining.

The Express scored the only three goals of the 2nd quarter and extended their lead to 12-3 with five more unanswered goals to start the 3rd quarter. Johnson stopped the run with a goal with 8:30 left in the 3rd and Teddy Alvarado (Hilton) scored the next two to make it 12-6. After another goal by the Express, Nathan Crowley (West Irondequoit) netted his first of the season to make it a six goal game heading into the final quarter.

Johnson scored two goals in the first 1:38 of the 4th but Wells answered with a goal with 9:01 remaining. Landon Drum (Tully) scored with 5:32 and Nic Covelli (Carmel) scored with 1:10 remaining but the Pioneers could not get any closer.

Johnson led the way with four goals while Alvarado had two goals and an assist. Dickson finished with a goal and two assists while Crowley was 19 for 26 in the face-off circle and led the team with 13 groundballs.

Aaron Heisey led the Express with four goals and an assist while Brian Buttner (2 goals and 2 assists) and Tanner Mingen (3 goals and 1 assist) both recorded four points. 

Alfred State held a 47 to 40 shot advantage in the game. Zach Simone made 17 saves for Wells to earn the victory while Matt Cobb (Churchville Chili) made eight saves in just under 50 minutes of action.

The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday when they host Hiram for a 2 p.m. contest at Pioneer Stadium.