CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally 16th-ranked men's lacrosse team broke an 8-8 third-quarter tie with a six-goal run and closed out a 14-9 victory versus Skidmore College in the season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at a chilly Stadium Complex.

Sophomore Colton Smith (South Bristol/Penn Yan Academy) matched his career high of six points on three goals and three assists to lead the Red Dragons offense. Senior Troy Morris (Long Beach) also netted three goals. Senior Dante Yacavone (Homer) tallied two goals and two assists, junior Jason Chiodo (Hamburg) finished with two goals and one assist and graduate student Brandon Stiles (Mastic/Eastport-South Manor) scored twice. Graduate student Mike Nicholson (North Babylon/St. Anthony's) and junior Luke Morris (North Rockland) each added a goal, and sophomore Matt Amato (Kingston/Millbrook School) contributed an assist.

Sophomore goalie Travis Wagner (Penfield) made 14 saves in his Cortland debut. Junior Jake Smeader (Hamburg) finished with seven ground balls and two caused turnovers and won 5-of-9 faceoffs. Senior Justin Wainwright (Homer) also secured seven ground balls and caused three turnovers. Stiles recorded three ground balls and three caused turnovers, Smith scooped up four ground balls and Amato and Morris collected three ground balls apiece.

Freshman Jon Bouvier (Hopkinton, MA/Pomfret School) paced the Thoroughbreds' offense with three goals and an assist, while sophomore Matt Pinckney (West Hartford, CT/Cushing Academy) scored a pair of goals. Sophomore Charlie McFadden (Edmonton, AB/Cushing Academy) recorded a goal and an assist, and junior Ben Gastonguay (Chelmsford, MA) and freshmen Alex Carpenter (Stoew, VT/Salisbury School) and Brian Gonsalves (Holliston, MA/The Rivers School) each netted a goal.

Freshman goalie Collin Kuester (Manhasset) registered 21 saves in his collegiate debut. Freshman Luke Curtin (Wellesley, MA/Belmont Hill School) won 15-of-23 faceoffs and collected seven ground balls. Senior Hudson Miller (Red Hook) finished with three ground balls and two caused turnovers, junior Paul Heffernan (Marblehead, MA) secured four ground balls and Kuester scooped up three ground balls.

Cortland 14, Skidmore 9

GAME SUMMARY:

Team                 1-2-3-4  Final
Skidmore           1-4-3-1      9
Cortland             2-4-4-4    14

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Skidmore: Jon Bouvier 3-1, Matt Pinckney 2-0, Charlie McFadden 1-1, Ben Gastonguay 1-0, Alex Carpenter 1-0, Brian Gonsalves 1-0, Hudson Miller 0-1, Brandon Reilly 0-1
Cortland: Colton Smith 3-3, Troy Morris 3-0, Dante Yacavone 2-2, Jason Chiodo 2-1, Brandon Stiles 2-0, Mike Nicholson 1-0, Luke Morris 1-0, Matt Amato 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Skidmore: Collin Kuester, 21 saves (14 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Travis Wagner, 14 saves (9 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 47, Skidmore 39
Ground Balls: Cortland 41, Skidmore 32
Turnovers: Skidmore 29, Cortland 17
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 11, Skidmore 3
Clears: Cortland 24-of-28, Skidmore 14-of-26
Faceoffs Won: Skidmore 16, Cortland 10
Penalties: Skidmore 6-5:00, Cortland 6-4:30
Extra-Man Offense: Skidmore 3-6, Cortland 0-5

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 1-0 (ranked 16th in Div. III), Skidmore (Thoroughbreds) 0-1