Hankel stops 23 shots, Men’s Lacrosse falls at SUNY Poly 11-6

ALBANY, N.Y.—Junior goalie John Hankel made 23 saves but it wasn't enough as the MCLA Men's Lacrosse team dropped an 11-6 decision to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) rival SUNY Poly tonight. With the win the Wildcats improve to 3-2 (1-0 NAC) while the Trailblazers fall to 4-4 (1-2 NAC).

Boden Dock's man up goal would break a scoreless tie at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter giving MCLA its only lead of the evening before SUNY Poly would reel off four straight goals, including two by Michael Baker, to put the Wildcats up 4-1 three and a half minutes into the second.

MCLA's Nathan Haley would momentarily stop the bleeding scoring his first of three on the evening to make it 4-2 with 10:55 left in the half but just eleven seconds later, SUNY Poly's Lyle Beeman would score and then four minutes later, assist on Andrew Maycock's man up goal making it 6-2. Haley would score his second goal late in the quarter to make it 6-3 at the half.

The two teams would trade goals just ten seconds apart in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Wildcats would close the quarter on a three-goal run making it 10-4 after three.

Matthew Wallace would himself score and later assist on Anthony Andolina's fourth quarter goal for the Trailblazers, but Poly would hold on taking the match 11-6.

Baker and Luke Tayler would each notch hat-tricks for the Wildcats.

SUNY Poly staring goalie Joseph VanZandt (W, 3-2) made 3 saves facing only eight shots to earn the win. MCLA's John Hankel (L, 4-4) made 23 saves on 34 shots but took the loss for the Trailblazers.

The Wildcats will continue NAC play on Friday travelling to NVU-Lyndon. The Trailblazers will hit road Sunday for a nonconference date with Wells College at noon.