Geneseo Men's Lacrosse suffer fourth straight one goal loss

The Geneseo men’s lacrosse team continued their string of tough losses, falling to #4 RIT, 11-10, on March 31. The Blue Knights fell to 0-6 on the season. It was their fourth straight one goal loss and fifth on the season.

Geneseo got off to a quick 2-0 barely two minutes into the first quarter. Sophomore James Purpura scored and then assisted on a goal from senior Brendan Kurpis. RIT responded with three straight goals to take the lead before first year Steven Cregan tied the game at three.

The Blue Knights struggled in the second quarter, as RIT scored four goals to take a 7-3 lead into halftime.

“We had a bad second quarter and that’s what good teams can do to you,” head coach Jim Lyons said. “We know we have to be complete. We’ve had plenty of great 60 minutes, they just haven’t come in the same game.”

Purpura scored his second of the game to open the third quarter but the Tigers then pulled off two quick goals to extend the lead to five. Senior Jeff Watson then scored two goals for Geneseo in between two RIT goals so the Blue Knights still trailed by five, 11-6, early in the fourth.

Geneseo was able to get back into the game, in large part to being able to force turnovers on the Tigers clearing attempts. RIT was only 3-9 on clearing attempts in the second half.

“We had been riding the defensive effort by our offensive players,” Lyons added. “Players on the field were working hard and not giving up. Our determination, heart, and will is the strongest as I’ve ever had here.”

Watson then scored his third of the game before assisting junior Tim Hayden for a goal. Watson is now tied for second of the team with nine points on five goals and four assists.

Junior Tim Burgess and sophomore John Wettack then each scored to pull Geneseo within one with a little over six minutes left. Geneseo had possession with over one minute left trying to tie the game. Geneseo kept firing shots that just missed the net. Geneseo was unable to get the tying goal and turned the ball over with a few seconds remaining.

“It was a situation where more was less. More people wanted to help the team win. Guys were stepping up trying to make a play,” Lyons added. Geneseo was also out of timeouts and unable to use one at the end of the game. “My decision to call timeout in the third quarter hurt us. I pin that decision on me.”

Junior Michael Gruebel made ten saves taking the loss in net, including making seven saves in the third quarter to keep Geneseo in the game.

Geneseo opens SUNYAC play on Wednesday, April 11 at #2 Cortland.

“I’m really proud of the effort, we played a great game,” Lyons added. “They’ve improved, recognized weakness, and improved on those things, but we still have things to work on.”