kROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth men's lacrosse team picked up its fifth win in a row on Friday night, as the hosts pulled away in the second half against Utica for a 17-9 win. After holding a 7-5 advantage at the half, Nazareth outscored the Pioneers 10-4 in the second half. Quinn Conroy and Andy Hamel each had two goals over the final 30 minutes and netted three total for the game.

Nazareth is now 8-3 overall and 2-0 in Empire 8 play. Utica is now 4-5 and 0-1 in league play.
 
The first half remained close and despite just six successful clears on 15 attempts, the Pioneers leaned on 13 first half saves from their goalie Patrick Oswald to keep the game tight.
 
With the score tied at five, Hamel and Brendan Regan netted goals to end the half for a two-goal lead at the break, 7-5.
 
That helped Nazareth come out with momentum in the second half as the Golden Flyers added the next four goals in the third quarter.  Matthew Farrington scored on the extra-man from Conroy and less than a minute later, Conroy scored a goal of his own.
 
Hamel and Louis Cogliandro had the other goals on the run to make it 11-5 midway through. Cogliandro put together two goals and two assists.
 
With a 12-6 lead to start the fourth, Sean O'Brian scored his first goal of the year off an assist from William O'Neill. 
 
The Golden Flyers kept their foot on the gas with goals by William Meagher and Hamel to push the lead to 15-6 with over 13 to play.
 
Nazareth's leading goal scorer Quinn McKercher eventually found the net with 3:34 remaining in the game.
 
McLean Ralston made the eight saves for his 8^th win of the season.
 
Jakob Denkenberger won 19-of-27 faceoffs and had a game-high nine ground balls.
 
Cole Slimak had four caused turnovers in a strong defensive effort for Nazareth.