MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Men's Lacrosse Team (0-2, 0-0 NEAC) fell to the Pioneers of Utica College (1-0) by a score of 21-2 Wednesday night. The game marked the Wildcats' first home game of the season, and the Pioneers first game overall.

The well-established Utica team asserted itself over the second-year SUNYIT program early on, as Zack Stevenson netted two goals in a four-goal first quarter for UC. The Pioneers scored the first three goals of the game before Kevin Gardrvits (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Glen Cove) put SUNYIT on the board with 3:35 to go in the quarter. Brett Gifford (Cazenovia, N.Y. / Cazenovia) was credited with an assist on the play.

From there, however, the Pioneers would pull away. Utica held a 10-2 lead at the half and doubled their output in the second for the 21-2 victory while leading in all statistical categories. Ben Winkler joined Stevenson as the two Pioneer players to record hat-tricks on the day, while Joe Schoen led all players with 9 points on two goals and a whopping five assists.

For the Wildcats it was Tyler Serva (Chenango Forks, N.Y. / Chenango Forks) leading the team in groundballs with 8, while Derek Rowe (Mexico, N.Y. / Mexico) and Andre Shattell (Syracuse, N.Y. / Henninger) each picked up five.

Scoring the Wildcats second and final goal (coming with three minutes to go in the second quarter) on an unassisted play was senior Chris Pace (Cortland, N.Y. / Cortland).

The Wildcats will hope for better weather and a better outcome when they host regional powerhouse Oswego State this Saturday. Game time is set for 1:00 pm.