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CLINTON, N.Y. -- Host Hamilton used a six-goal flurry between the first and second quarters Wednesday to establish control as the Continentals rallied for a 17-12 men's lacrosse victory over Nazareth in a non-conference game.

Nazareth dropped to 2-5 overall, while Hamilton improved to 3-2. The Golden Flyers open their Empire 8 Conference schedule Saturday at home against Elmira at 1 p.m. on the artificial turf field.

The Golden Flyers led 3-2 midway through the first quarter on the strength of three goals by sophomore middie Jeremy Jacobs. The Continentals were able to tie the score a minute later on a goal by Henry Hunt, touching off a six-goal outburst that ended with Hamilton in the lead for good at 8-3.

Nazareth, trailing 11-4 at halftime, rallied to score six times in the third quarter -- with two goals from Jack Crowley --  to draw within 12-10. In the fourth quarter, Nazareth was still within two goals, 14-12, following a goal by Drew McNerney with 8:44 left, but Hamilton scored the final three goals of the game, including the fifth goal of the game by Hunt, to erase any Nazareth comeback thoughts.

Hamilton had statistical advantages in shots (52-45), ground balls (43-35) and face-offs (21-11) and benefited from 10 Nazareth penalties that results in three extra-man goals.

Freshman Eric Almquist played all 60 minutes in goal for Nazareth and made 12 saves. Hamilton's combination of Seamus Fagan and Max Scheidl had 16 saves.

McNerney had two assists in addition to his one goal. Freshman Matthew Vanliew had one goal and four assists and Tristan Gosselin had one goal and one assist.