PITTSFORD, N.Y. – In a battle of two of the top teams in Division III, the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College men's lacrosse team overwhelmed visiting SUNY Cortland, 20-8, on Wednesday in the Cardinals' home-opener inside Growney Stadium.  With the win, Fisher, which is ranked seventh in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll, improved to 2-0 while the Red Dragons, who are ranked 17th in the same poll, leveled off at 1-1.

Senior Ian Evans, who was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week on Monday, led the team with five goals on nine shots while Nicholas Miller scored four goals of his own paired with an assist in the win.  The Ithaca native also was credited with three groundballs.  Jack Mulvihill added four points on two goals and two helpers while Jordan Depetres scored twice for Fisher.  Brennan O'Brien and Jordan Leuze each scored and dished out an assist while Tyler Edinger, Matthew Kemmis, Timmy Salit, Jacob Gallina and Colin Blakeslee each finished with one goal apiece.  Tucker O'Donnell assisted on two goals and scooped up two groundballs overall.

Joe Post led the team after going 16-for-20 at the faceoff to go along with 13 groundballs while Logan Grom was 5-for-8 at X with four groundballs.   

After giving up the game's first goal, the Cardinals roared back with two goals in a span on 62 seconds including a man-up tally from Mulvihill. 

Trailing by a goal midway through the opening period, Cortland found the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2, but Fisher closed out the quarter with four unanswered marks including three from Evans to take a 6-2 edge into the second period.

Leading by four with a fresh 15 minutes on the clock, the Cardinals continued to apply the pressure as Depetres and Leuze pushed the advantage to six.  Cortland would halt the bleeding with a goal at the 7:44 mark, but was unable to keep pace as the half wore on with head coach Dave Dobbins' squad netting four more goals including two from Miller to hold a 12-3 advantage at the break.

Holding a nine-goal margin, Fisher's pace slowed as the Red Dragons cut the gap to eight leading into the final frame. 

Trailing 14-6, Cortland looked to carry its momentum over, but Depetres broke free and scored just 66 seconds into the final period to spark a 6-2 run over the next 11 minutes to make it 20-8 as the final horn sounded.

Sophomore Ben Hammond, who was named the Empire 8 Goalie of the Week earlier in the week, improved to 2-0 in net after making 10 saves against seven goals.  Brandon Moore played the final six minutes and made two saves in all.

The schedule doesn't get any easier from here as the Cardinals welcome No. 11 St. Lawrence to Growney Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday.