UTICA, N.Y. -- The SUNY Oneonta men's lacrosse team opened the 2023 season strong, defeating Utica University on the road, 14-8, Sunday afternoon. Senior Jack Dinnegan (Blauvelt/Tappan Zee) recorded a hat trick while seniors Sam Haita (Stephentown/La Salle Institute), Connor Gallagher (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson), and Owen Vail (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) all found the net twice. The Red Dragons now sit at 1-0 as the Pioneers dropped to 0-2.  

After a faceoff violation gave Oneonta possession to start the game, freshman Jamie O'Neil (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) scored his first collegiate goal for a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers made it 2-1 after a man-up goal with 4:03 left in the period, however Oneonta's offense settled in and tallied the game's next seven goals. Senior David Guest (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) and Dinnegan started the run and regained the lead before the start of the second.  

At 7:33 in the second, Gallagher had a mismatch behind the net, got past his defender and scored on an underhand shot. Dinnegan scored his second after he spun past his defender and shot a low burner into the net, and Vail made it 6-2 when he side stepped his defender and fired it high past Utica's goalie, Jake Bowen. The Pioneers called a timeout, but it didn't slow down the Red Dragons tempo. On the ensuing faceoff, junior Jesse AlfanoStJohn (Westhampton Beach/Westhampton Beach) picked up the ground ball and took it to the cage himself for the goal. Haita scored the final goal of the half after he created space off the ball for Gallagher to pass it to him seven yards out, giving Oneonta an 8-2 advantage.  

In the opening minutes of the third period, Sam Serrano assisted a pair of Utica goals and Haita scored his second. The Red Dragons closed out the third with three goals. Junior Matthew Krieg (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) found Vail for his second goal before Kreig scored one himself, and Dinnegan rolled away from his defender to beat Bowen up high for a 12-4 lead heading into the fourth.

Serrano and Gallagher traded goals to start the fourth to keep the eight-goal margin and Oneonta began to manage the clock. The Pioneers could only add three more goals in the final eight minutes, while senior Bryce Caffrey (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson) scored one more for the Red Dragons after Caffrey stole Bowen's pass on a clear attempt with 1:26 to play.  

Junior Harrison Boukas (North Massapequa/Plainegde) finished with nine saves and junior Stephen Sommo (Floral Park/Floral Park) won 11 of his 17 faceoffs, leading Oneonta with four ground balls.  

Serrano and Connor Costanza each had two goals and two assists as Bowen finished with 11 saves for Utica.

The Red Dragons were 20-22 on clears and won 15 faceoffs while Utica was 15-22 on clears and won 10 faceoffs.  

Oneonta is back in action on Wednesday for their home opener against Skidmore at 4 pm.  Read Full Article