The Oswego State men's lacrosse team (3-0) scored eight unanswered goals to begin the second half, breaking a 4-4 halftime tie in a 13-8 win over Elmira (1-2) at Elmira Free Academy, Wednesday, March 13.
Senior captain Casey Balzer (Nassau, N.Y.) registered seven points on four goals and three assists in the third straight win for the Lakers to start the season. Sophomore Cody Hoose (Syracuse, N.Y.) followed up his strong performance against Adrian with five points on three goals and two assists to keep Oswego State undefeated.
The Lakers held the Soaring Eagles scoreless in the first period, while scoring three goals of their own to take a 3-0 lead into the second period. Midfielder Nick Giampaolo (Jr., Setauket, N.Y.) started the scoring with an unassisted goal less than five minutes into the game. He assisted the next goal, scored by Jimmy Cordon (So., Camillus, N.Y.) to double the lead.
The Soaring Eagles dominated the second period, registering five shots on goal to just two for Oswego State. Elmira's David Evert tallied two goals and an assist in the stanza, in which the Soaring Eagles outscored the Lakers, 4-1. The teams entered the break knotted up at four.
In the next 30 minutes, the Lakers outscored the Soaring Eagles 8-0. In the third period alone, Oswego State outshot the opposition 11-3, scoring five goals. Balzer and Hoose combined for 10 points in the second half, as the Lakers built a 12-4 lead to put the game out of reach.
Evert assisted three consecutive goals for the Soaring Eagles to close the gap to four, but Elmira's comeback attempt fell short. Balzer scored his fourth goal of the game with just over a minute remaining to give the Lakers the 13-8 edge.
The Lakers outshot Elmira 52-25 in the contest, and Oswego State goalie Bryan Martin (Jr., St. James, N.Y.) made eight saves in the victory. Soaring Eagle goalie Dave Bucchino recorded 13 saves for Elmira. The Lakers also held a 38-24 edge on groundballs, besting the Soaring Eagles in each period.
Oswego State is back in action Friday, March 15, as the Lakers travel to Utica to face SUNYIT at 1 p.m.
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