Box Score Box | Updated stats
UTICA, N.Y. -- Freshman Kyle Fanning scored a career-best five goals and junior midfielder Brian Wright amassed seven points on three goals and four assists Wednesday as visiting Nazareth defeated Utica in men's lacrosse, 19-7.

The game was the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams. Nazareth improved to 4-4 overall. Utica is 5-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Nazareth dominated the first 30 minutes, outshooting Utica 23-7 in building a 12-1 halftime advantage. The Golden Flyers extended the lead to 16-4 after three quarters. Freshmen Matt Sammarco and Drew Simoneau each scored twice as did senior attackman Nate DeLone. Sammarco also had two assists as did junior midfielder Chris Peterson, who also scored once.

Nazareth scored six times in the first quarter and then scored the first three goals of the second to build an insurmountable 9-0 lead. Fanning and Simoneau each scored twice during that stretch and Wright contributed a goal and two assists.

A goal by Utica's Ben Winkler interrupted the string, before Nazareth closed out the first half with goals by Wright, Fanning and DeLone to go up 12-1.

Nazareth added four more goals in the third quarter, including the first career score for long-stick middie Kyle Fister to extend the lead to 16-4. Peterson, Wright and Fanning also scored. Fanning added his fifth goal of the game and ninth of the season early in the fourth quarter. Sammarco and freshman Will Fallo also contributed to close out the Nazareth scoring. The game also featured the first goal of the season for sophomore midfielder Chris Aycock and the first career point -- an assist -- for freshman midfielder Tyler Lee. Senior #C.J. Estes# also had a goal and now has a team-best 15 and 105 for his career.

Nazareth had advantages in shots (40-35), ground balls (46-28) and face-offs (21-9). The Golden Flyers also scored a season-high five extra-man goals. Junior Tim Doyle played the first 52 minutes in goal and made 12 saves. Junior Rob Olin finished up and made three saves while allowing one goal.

Simoneau also won 15 of 21 face-offs and scooped up 12 ground balls. Sophomore Mark Pinski won 6 of 7 face-offs and had six ground balls. Peterson and Doyle each had five ground balls.

Nazareth is idle this weekend and returns to action Wednesday, April 4 at home vs. RIT at 4 p.m.