The Cortland lacrosse team kicked off their season in style in Pittsford on Wednesday, dominating St. John Fisher with a resounding 15-7 victory. The starting attack unit for Cortland was particularly potent, combining for an impressive 10 goals in the match.
Sam Rothman, a junior hailing from Dix Hills and Half Hollow Hills East, led the charge for Cortland’s attack, showcasing his scoring prowess with four goals and an assist.
“Leading the first game of the season was definitely a great feeling, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates. Playing St. John Fisher is always a big game for us going into it. All the guys were pumped and excited, especially with it being our first game,” Rothman said. “My expectations going forward are high. We have a great group of guys who are hungry to win and have fun so it is definitely going to be a fun and exciting season.”
Joining in the offensive onslaught, Kole Stuver from Fairport contributed three goals and two assists to Cortland’s tally. Adding to the scoring frenzy, Klay Stuver of Fairport netted two goals, while Ryan Scanlon from Cornelius, NC, with roots in William Amos Hough, chipped in with a goal and two assists. Josh Michel, making his debut as a Red Dragon from Fayetteville-Manlius, made an immediate impact with a goal and an assist. Rounding out the scoring for Cortland, Ryan Eccles from Corcoran in Syracuse found the back of the net for a goal.
Cortland’s goalkeeper, Travis Wagner, the senior out of Penfield, put on a stellar performance between the posts, making 13 saves to frustrate the opposition.
“I felt extremely confident going into the game. First of all the game was in my hometown so having my whole family in the stands was huge for me to want to play well today and let me really sink into the game knowing I had my biggest supporters watching me,” Wagner said. “The win was huge for our whole team. As soon as we got off the bus, there was a great buzz of positive energy from our squad and we all fed off of each other through the game. I’m really excited to see what comes for the rest of the year.”
On the defensive end, Yancey, along with Alex Thrasher from Vestal and Aidan McHugh from Maine-Endwell, showcased their prowess by each collecting three ground balls. Caden Yancey, a junior from Fayetteville-Manlius, was a force to be reckoned with, notching three goals and dishing out three assists.
“It felt great to get out against another team for real after a long and hard preseason but it was definitely nerve racking at first,” Yancey said. “Everyone played unselfish and we shot well and our defense played amazing and it was great to start the season on the right track.”
For the St. John Fisher Cardinals, Senior Ben Hammond started the game and made four saves in the first half. In the second half, Tyler Manning took over by stopping three shots. Logan Grom had a standout performance in the faceoff department, winning 12 out of 18 faceoffs and securing nine ground balls. Additionally, Jack Cornell contributed defensively with five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Jordan Leuze contributed with a goal and two assists, while Timmy Salit and Brady Mason added a goal each to the scoreboard. Sean Donaldson and Brett Seaman led the scoring efforts with two goals apiece.