PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- The Oneonta men's lacrosse team took care of business on the road and defeated Plattsburgh State in a lopsided 21-5 SUNYAC win, Wednesday afternoon. Oneonta was only up 3-1 after the first period before they outscored Plattsburgh 7-1 in the second and eventually created an 18-4 lead after three quarters. Junior Thomas Hnis (Smithtown, N.Y./Kings Park) led the team finishing with the game-high eight points, scoring five goals with three assists, collected five ground balls and caused a turnover. The win improved the Red Dragons' record to 8-7 this season, 5-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Cardinals dropped to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Junior Aidan Boyle (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) ended the game with four goals and an assist for five points, and freshman Ryan Babikian (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) scored four goals in the victory. Senior Daniel Macchiarella (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) totaled two goals and an assist for three points. Sophomore Sean Grimes (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y./Croton Harmon) had a career day at faceoff, winning a career-best 18 of 22 faceoffs, while picking up a career and the game-high 11 ground balls. Freshman Aidan Brinn (South Salem, NY/John Jay) recorded his first collegiate goal in the victory. 

"Great team win today, very proud of the effort, especially defensively today," said Head Coach Pete Owens. "Our guys were ready to go and it showed." 

Macchiarella netted the first goal of the game after he broke his defender's ankles and cut past him towards the net for an open shot. Plattsburgh tied the game at 13:51, then Oneonta rattled off eight straight goals to take a 9-1 lead with 5:15 to play in the second period. Hnis led the charge with three goals, including an impressive behind the back shot that capped off the run. Babikian found the back of the net twice, with one happening on a man-up advantage, while Boyle scored when he had the ball behind the net and wrapped around towards the front for his first goal of the day. Macchiarella ripped in his second of the game, ninth of the season, and senior Brian Zecchini (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) recorded his first goal this year.

The Cardinals ended the Red Dragons run, however senior Jamie O'Neil (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) got the ball down low and whipped it into the back of the net for his 30th goal of the season and gave Oneonta a 10-2 lead at halftime.

Plattsburgh scored the first goal of the third quarter, then Oneonta's offense tallied seven unanswered goals to take a 17-3 lead with 6:07 left in the period. Hnis recorded the first goal of the run and later had O'Neil assist him for his 60th goal this season. Babikian recovered a ground ball in the slot and fired it in for his third of the day, before junior Finn Morris (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) cut past a defender and fired in his ninth goal of the season.

Grimes won the ensuing faceoff after Morris' goal and got the ball to Brinn at the top of the attack zone. Brinn took a few steps in and ripped his first career goal past the Cardinal keeper to go up 13-3 at 8:30. Grimes won the next faceoff and the ball eventually got to senior Shakim Carr (Brooklyn, N.Y./John Dewey) at the top of the zone, who sprinted past his defender for an open shot and his seventh goal this season. Boyle scored his second of the game less than 30 seconds later off a pass from Macchiarella.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, both teams scored a goal as Oneonta went into the fourth ahead 18-4. Boyle scored for the Red Dragons, recording his third goal of the game off a pass from Hnis.

The Red Dragons outscored the Cardinals 3-1 in the final period for the 21-5 final. With 9:34 to play, Hnis found Babikian for a man-up score and the freshman's 18th goal this year. Less than 30 seconds later, freshman Matt Sellitto (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) got the ball near midfield and Sellitto got past his defender for a one-on-one with the goalie and beat him for his third goal of the season. Oneonta scored their final goal on an extra man opportunity with 4:38 to play, when Hnis tossed an underhand pass to Boyle near the crease and he scored off a diving shot while getting pushed in the back by a defender.

Sophomore Mark Restivo (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) finished with nine saves for a .643 save percentage in 47:52 for Oneonta. Junior Ben Thayer (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) played the last 12:08 and recorded two saves for a 1.000 save percentage.

Junior David Trahan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) caused three turnovers and collected two ground balls. Senior Sergio Ilario (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North), juniors Trey Fee (White Plains, NY/White Plains) and Ryan Lussier (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) all picked up three ground balls and caused a turnover.

Cole Orehosky ended with 10 saves for a .333 save percentage in 50:52 for Plattsburgh, as Jack Mulcahy played the final 9:08 in goal and made a save for a .500 save percentage. The Cardinals were led by Peter Urso with three assists and Jamie Gipe with two goals.

Oneonta outshot Plattsburgh 52-20 in total shots, 32-16 on net, and finished with a 41-31 ground ball advantage. The Red Dragons were 24-for-28 on clear attempts and 4-for-8 on extra man opportunities, while the Cardinals were 21-for-26 on clears and 1-for-3 with the man-up.

The Red Dragons are back home for the regular season finale on Saturday, April 25, against Canton starting at 2 pm on Red Dragon Field, after the conclusion of the women's lacrosse SUNYAC first round game that starts at 11 am. Read Full Article