Danbury, CT – The SUNY Brockport Men's lacrosse team opened the 2026 campaign with a hard-fought road battle, ultimately falling to Western Connecticut State University, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at The WAC. Despite a late-game surge and a standout performance between the pipes, the Golden Eagles (0-1) were unable to overcome a heavy shot discrepancy in the season's first contest.

How It Happened

The contest began as a defensive stalemate, with both programs trading a single goal in the opening frame to enter the second quarter tied at 1-1. WestConn found its rhythm in the second, outscoring the Golden Eagles 4-2 to take a 5-3 lead into the locker room.

Brockport's offense found its spark in the second half. Pierson Jacobs and Daniel Wright each found the back of the net twice to lead the scoring effort, while Marc Zappulla facilitated the attack with a team-high two assists. The Golden Eagles' man-up unit capitalized on one of three opportunities, keeping the game within reach as they entered the final period trailing 8-6.

In the fourth quarter, Brockport's defense stood tall against a relentless Wolves attack that finished the day with 48 total shots. Senior goalie Jared Kulik was a wall in the crease, recording a massive 15 saves to keep the Green and Gold in contention until the final whistle. Brockport outscored WestConn 3-2 in the final 15 minutes, but the Wolves held on to secure the one-goal victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Leading Scorers: Pierson Jacobs (2G), Daniel Wright (2G, 1A), and Patrick Donahoe (1G).
• Marc Zappulla led Brockport with two assists, with freshmen Daniel Stiles and sophomore Patrick Donahoe notching their first goals as Golden Eagles. 
• Between the Pipes: Jared Kulik anchored the defense with 15 saves on 25 shots on goal.
• Ground Balls: AJ Thomas led the scrappy defensive effort with two ground ball pickups.
• Efficiency: Despite being outshot 48-24, Brockport remained highly efficient, putting 17 of 24 shots on net (70.8%).
• Transition Game: The Golden Eagles were nearly perfect in transition, successful on 24 of 26 clear attempts.

Up Next: The Golden Eagles will look to bounce back as they remain on the road to face Oneonta on Saturday, February 21st.