Fast Start Lifts Pioneers Past Redhawks

The Alfred State lacrosse team won their first AMCC contest as they used a fast start to down La Roche 16-7 on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers outscored the Redhawks 7 to 0 in the 1st quarter and never looked back.

The combo of Teddy Alvarado (Hilton) and Joe Johnson (Churchville) got the Pioneers started on the right foot. Alvarado scored four goals and had an assist while Johnson two goals and two assists in the opening 15 minutes. Stanley Tencza (Warwick) also netted a goal, his first of the season.

Brad LaBovick got the Redhawks on the board in the 2nd but Alvarado and Johnson combined to make it 8-2 at halftime.

Johnson and Nicolas Covelli (Carmel) scored in the 3rd quater to make it 10-2 before LaBoick completed his hat trick.

In a wild ten-goal 4th quarter, Alvardo scored three more goals and Johnson found the back of the net twice more. Ian Grana (Greece/Odyssey) also found the back of the net. LaBovick continued his big day for La Roche with three more goals while Devin Wolford added the final goal.

Alvarado finished the day with eight goals and an assist while Johnson had five goals and four assists. Brandon Dickson (Bath Haverling) passed out five assists, Grana had a goal and an assist, Covelli and Tencza scored once, and AJ Soto (Churchville) and Landon Drum (Tully) both passed out an assist.

Tanner Morrow (Grand Island) won 21 of 25 faceoffs and had a team high 15 ground balls. Ryan Amidon (Fayetteville Manlius) had five saves while Nate Gardner (Newark) made one save in the final 9:02 of the contest.

LaBovick scored six goals and passed out one assist for the Redhawks.

The Pioneers outshot La Roche 47 to 15 and grabbed 47 ground balls compared to 22 by the Redhawks. Alfred State was 5 of 12 when they had the extra man.

The blue & gold are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Utica for a 5 p.m.