ONEONTA, N.Y. -- An offensive surge in the third quarter for the SUNY Oneonta men's lacrosse team lifted them over Hartwick, 16-12, in the Battle of the Hills, Thursday afternoon. Freshman Jamie O'Neil (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) finished with four goals and four assists, and juniors Evan Kelly (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) and Matthew Krieg (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) each recorded a hat trick as the Red Dragons improved to 2-2 on the season, while the Hawks dropped to 0-2.  

Hartwick's Matthew Locasto broke the scoreless tie before Krieg tied it back up with his first goal at 9:28. Locasto regained the lead on the Hawks next possession, until Kelly found the net for his first collegiate goal at 5:57, tying the game at two. Hartwick scored a pair in the closing minutes of the first while O'Neil took it himself with eight seconds remaining in the quarter to pull Oneonta within one.  

Krieg scored both Red Dragons goals in the second period off passes from O'Neil, however the Hawks answered both, including one from Shayne Kerrigan with five seconds left in the half, to put Hartwick up 6-5.  

Oneonta opened the lid in the third quarter, scoring eight goals while limiting Hartwick to three. Senior Sam Haita (Stephentown/La Salle Institute) and O'Neil scored twice in the period, and junior Ben Konak (South Salem/John Jay) found the net for his first goal of the season. Kelly tallied his second of the game, Krieg recorded his third for the hat trick, and senior Connor Gallagher (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson) capped the quarter off with a man up goal to put the Red Dragons ahead, 13-9.  

O'Neil started the fourth firing it low for his 12th goal of the season, putting Oneonta up five, but Locasto netted his third 30 seconds later, keeping Hartwick in the game. With 10:02 left to play Konak scored his second of the day, and a minute later Kelly recorded his hat trick to give Oneonta a 16-10 lead. The Red Dragons defense handled the Hawks for the final nine minutes to come away with the win.

Krieg had an assist to go along with his hat trick. Konak and Haita each finished with a pair of goals. Junior Harrison Boukas (North Massapequa/Plainegde) recorded 13 saves and junior Stephen Sommo (Floral Park/Floral Park) won 17 of his 27 faceoffs.  

Kerrigan had four goals for Hartwick and Kyle McKee finished with 15 saves.  

The Red Dragons outshot the Hawks 46-30, won 18 of the 31 faceoffs, and were 25-26 on clear attempts.

Oneonta travels down to Greensboro, NC to face Greensboro on Sunday at 1 pm.  Read Full Article