Pioneers Stumble in Hampton Classic Opener

The Alfred State lacrosse team lost a tight 7-5 battle with SUNY Delhi on Saturday in the opening day of the Hampton Inn Bulldog Classic at Dean College. 

The Broncos scored the only three goals of the opening quarter. John Rohan scored with 6:43 remaining, Jeremy Leary scored 25 seconds later with the man advantage, and Ross Cange scored with just 17 seconds left. Neither team could get much going in the 2nd quarter until the final two minutes. Leary scored with 1:48 remaining to make it 4-0. Joe Johnson (Churchville) scored three straight goals in the final 1:34 to cut the lead to one, 4-3 at the half. Nathan Crowley (Irondequoit) picked up assists on the first and third goal while AJ Soto (Churchville) assisted on the second.

The blue & gold tied it up 5:51 into the 3rd quarter when Soto scored after getting a pass from Cole Reuben (Bason/Akron). Luke Anderson gave the Broncos the lead for good with a pair of goals in a span of 1:07. His first came with 5:55 remaining after getting a pass from Malik Talbert. Leary assisted on his second goal with 4:48 left.

Johnson cut the lead to one 1:18 into the 4th quarter with his fourth goal of the game but the Pioneers were unable to get the equalizer. Anderson capped his own hat trick with 10:07 remaining.

Johnson finished the day with four goals, Soto had a goal and an assist, and Crowley had two assists and 10 ground balls. Crowley was also 13 for 15 in the faceoff circle. Matt Cobb (Churchville) made 13 saves in net for the Pioneers.

Anderson had a hat trick for Delhi while Leary finished with two goals and two assists. Eric Morse made seven saves to earn the win for the Broncos.

The Pioneers will take on Dean College tomorrow in the consolation game of the Hampton Inn Bulldog Classic. Dean fell 11-10 to SUNY Canton in the other first round contest.