PITTSFORD, N. Y.– On a cold and windy Saturday afternoon at Growney Stadium, the St. John Fisher College men's lacrosse team dominated Utica College from the opening whistle, as the Cardinals took down the Pioneers 21-21. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8, while the Pioneers fall to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Prior to the opening faceoff, both teams gathered at mid-field in support for the Go4theGoalcampaign that helps raise awareness for pediatric cancer. Both teams have raised thousands of dollars this season and greatly appreciate all the support. All donations will go towards the GolisanoChildren's Hospital to help families and patients in need during their difficult times, to donate please visit https://donate.go4thegoal.org/team/155689. 

Twenty-one goals scored by Fisher is the most in one game since April 18^thof last season when the Cardinals put up 25 goals versus Elmira. The Cardinals were able to put together a 14-goal run that stretched from the 14:29 mark of the second quarter, all the way till the 11:30 mark of the third quarter. 
 
Mitch Rein got the goal scoring started for Fisher just under two minutes into the game, when he picked up a ground ball and took it from mid-field to the top of the Utica crease for his fourth of the season. Jack Mulvihill notched his sixth of the season off of a feed from Danny Turck, which was followed by Connor McClain's first career goal at the 7:12 mark that gave Fisher a 3-0 lead. 
 
Utica finished the first quarter with a goal of their own with only 36 seconds remaining on the game clock. The Pioneers again were able to find the back of the net on the man-up advantage to start the second 15 minutes, cutting the Cardinal lead to 3-2. 
 
However, at the 14:29 mark of the second quarter Chance Gates started the dominating 14-goal run, when he finished off a tick-tack-toe play from Nicholas Miller. Two consecutive Andrew Rosso goals pushed the Fisher lead to 6-2, as the senior got his game-high five-goal game started. Zach Wagner continued the goal scoring with his 19^th of the season, with Gates picking up the assist. 
 
The Cardinals were able to beat the Utica goalkeeper four more times in under four and a half minutes before the halftime horn sounded. Miller notched his 23^rd of the year, which was followed by a Roger Panara individual effort tally, another Miller goal, and finally Rosso's hat-trick goal, giving the Cardinals an 11-2 advantage heading into the halftime break. 
 
The senior Rosso quickly continued the goal scoring in the third quarter, as he took another Miller assist and fired it to the top corner of the cage for his fourth of the afternoon. Mulvihill notched his second of the game only 42 seconds after Rosso's, pushing the Cardinal lead to 11 goals. 
 
Over the next three and a half minutes, the home side scored four more times starting with two straight goals from Miller as he completed his hat-trick on the day . Rosso added his fifth of the game, which was followed by freshman Brennan O'Brien first career-goal at the 11:30 mark of the third quarter. 
 
Utica ended the Fisher fourteen goal spree at the 8:20 mark of the third quarter, as both sides would trade goals back and forth over the next six minutes. Wagner notched his 20^thof the year from TJ VanDeusen in between the two Pioneer goals, as the scoreboard now read 18-4. 

Other than one late Pioneer tally on the man-up advantage to end the third quarter, the Cardinals put away three more goals in the quarter including two from Jacob Risavi and Benjamin Eggers first career-goal giving them a 21-4 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. 
 
Fisher was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, as Utica tacked on seven goals in the quarter to cut the lead 21-12. However, an all-around team effort helped the Cardinals take home their second Empire 8 victory of the season. 
 
Goalkeeper Justin Townsend took home his seventh victory of the season, after the senior finished with five saves in 42 minutes of action. Joe Post again showed his skill in the faceoff circle finishing 12 for 16, while grabbing a game high seven ground balls. John Austin, Cole Fowler, and Rosso led the way defensively after each notched two caused turnovers apiece. 
 
The Cardinals are back in action on Wednesday, when they travel down the road to take on East Avenue rival Nazareth in another Empire 8 Conference battle at 4 p.m.