Casey Balzer (Sr., Nassau, N.Y.) scored a career-high five games to lift the Oswego State men's lacrosse team (7-6, 2-3 SUNYAC) to a 15-10 victory over Oneonta on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon, April 20, at South Athletic Field.
The Lakers also benefitted from three goals and three assists from Nick Giampaolo (Jr., Setauket, N.Y.).
The Red Dragons got out of the blocks quickly with a pair of goals in the opening two minutes. However, a goal from Giampaolo and two of Balzer's markers before the midway point of the first quarter put Oswego State up, 3-2. Oneonta leveled the score following its lone man-up goal, but Connor Khammar (So., Camillus, N.Y.) and Giampaolo rocketed shots into the cage to give the Lakers the lead for good. Alex Haffner slowed down the home team's momentum with a Red Dragon goal in the final minute before Matt Palmer (So., Pittsford, N.Y.) scored with 8.3 seconds left in the quarter.
Oswego State received a goal from Balzer and a pair of scores from Chris Porten (Jr., Auburn, N.Y.) in the second quarter to make it a five-goal lead. Each team traded goals before the end of the half, as the score stood at 10-5 in favor of the Lakers.
Red Dragon Danny Stern netted a goal with 12:46 on the clock, but two goals from the stick of Jimmy Cordon (So., Camillus, N.Y.) and a behind-the-back, over-the-shoulder goal from Cody Hoose (So., Syracuse, N.Y.) gave Oswego State its largest lead of the contest at 13-6. Oneonta did not go away quietly, though, as Stern tacked on two more goals followed by a score from Jimmy van de Veerdonk.
Oneonta's energy carried on to the fourth quarter, gaining a two-minute man-up opportunity. As the penalty wore down, Oswego State caused a turnover just outside of its defensive zone, prompting a Red Dragon timeout. Giampaolo rolled out of a double team near the sideline, sprinted up the field through the defense, and fired a shot past Oneonta goalie Chris Miles to give the Lakers a five-goal cushion. After another Stern marker, Balzer found the back of the cage for his 25th goal of the season.
Laker goalie Bryan Martin (Jr., St. James, N.Y.) registered 11 saves to go along with ten goals allowed, while Oneonta's Miles finished with 11 saves.
Oswego State wraps up conference play Wednesday, April 24, when it travels to Cortland for a 4 p.m. contest.
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