BOXSCORE

Freshman Bryon Palmer (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City) scored a team-high four goals while senior Matt Andon-McLane (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) added three goals and two assists, but The College at Brockport's men's lacrosse team dropped its 2011 season opener 14-11 at Alfred University Saturday afternoon.

 

The teams played a scoreless six minutes and 46 seconds before Andon-McLane staked the Green and Gold (0-1) to a 1-0 lead on a man-up goal. Alfred (2-0) responded with four goals during a 5:14 span of the period to take a 4-1 lead heading into the second.

 

The Golden Eagles fought back and scored the first two goals of the period to draw within 4-3. Palmer's first collegiate goal came 2:01 into the period, and less than two minutes later, senior Andy Hilton (Rochester, NY/Gates Chili) scored unassisted.

 

The Saxons answered back, scoring four of the next five goals to take an 8-4 lead. Palmer's second goal of the half, with just 56 seconds left in the second, pulled Brockport within 8-5 at halftime.

 

Junior Nate Thomas (Cortland, NY/Cortland) and sophomore Kevin Conlon (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) scored 3:12 apart in the third period as Brockport trailed 9-7. Following an Alfred goal, Hilton and Palmer found the back of the net as the Golden Eagles got within 10-9 with 13:58 remaining.

 

Alfred tacked on two fourth-period goals for a 12-9 lead before Palmer and Andon-McLane scored 91 seconds apart to get Brockport within one, 12-11. The Saxons closed out the scoring with two goals in the final five minutes.

 

“It was the little things that made the difference today,” said Ben Wineburg, Brockport's 11th-year head coach.

 

“We really played hard today, and it was a good test against a good Alfred team. Our guys played hard and did some real good things today, but there's definitely room to improve. I thought Bryon Palmer did a good job in his first game, and Keenan Sullivan and Nate Thomas did a good job on the faceoffs. We just have to do better in the little things on the field and we'll get better as the year goes on.”

 

Hilton finished with two goals and an assist for Brockport. Senior Kyle Crosley (Clinton, NY/Homer), an Inside Lacrosse preseason All-American honorable mention goalie, started and allowed eight goals on 14 shots. Fellow senior Jon Fiorillo (Painted Post, NY/Corning West) played the second half and allowed six goals with five saves.

 

Brockport returns to action against Clarkson University at 4 p.m. Wednesday.