ONEONTA, NY – The SUNY Brockport men's lacrosse team (1-7, 1-0 Empire 8) picked up its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating Hartwick 10-7. In their Empire 8 conference opener, the Golden Eagles utilized a dominant third-quarter surge and a lockdown defensive performance in the fourth quarter to secure the win at Wright Stadium.

How It Happened

Hartwick opened the scoring ten minutes into the first quarter, but the Golden Eagles responded quickly to establish their rhythm. Daniel Wright leveled the game on a man-up opportunity, marking the sixth time in seven games this season that the junior has found the back of the net. Brockport carried a narrow 2-1 lead into the second frame before the Hawks orchestrated a four-goal surge, leaving the Golden Eagles trailing 5-4 at the halftime intermission.

Daniel Stiles ignited the offense in the third quarter, scoring twice in less than a minute to spark the comeback. After Hunter Riehlman tied the game at 7-7, Michael Dowden buried a shot with 2:29 remaining in the third to give Brockport an 8-7 lead they would hold on to for the rest of the game.

The Brockport defense was the story of the final period, holding Hartwick scoreless. Insurance goals from Marc Zappulla and Dowden early in the fourth quarter provided the final 10-7 margin.

Top Performers

Daniel Stiles put together a performance for the record books, leading all players with game-highs in both goals (4) and assists (3). His 11-point outburst ties him for the most points recorded in a single game across the Empire 8 conference this season. Michael Dowden provided a significant spark with two goals and two assists, while Marc Zappulla added a goal and two assists. Daniel Wright continued his consistent campaign, finding the back of the net to mark a goal in six of seven games this season. Nicholas Bisesi and Hunter Riehlman each contributed a goal to round out the scoring.

Jared Kulik was a wall in the cage, specifically during the fourth-quarter lockdown. Kulik finished the afternoon with 15 saves on 43 total shots faced in a full 60-minute effort, earning his first win of the season and keeping the Hawks scoreless for the final 15 minutes of play.

The Golden Eagles were efficient on the man-up, capitalizing on opportunities to keep the pressure on the Hartwick defense. Brockport also showcased disciplined ball security, successfully clearing 19 attempts and winning the ground ball battle 30-28, led by Michael Dowden and Austin Thornhill, who each scooped up four.

Cody Whittaker provided a significant spark at the face-off, winning 11-of-18 draws and scooping three ground-balls to secure vital possessions for the Golden Eagles throughout the afternoon.

Up Next: Brockport returns home to A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field to continue Empire 8 action. The Golden Eagles will host Geneseo on Wednesday, April 1, with the opening face-off scheduled for 4 p.m.