KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Men's Lacrosse picked up its first Empire 8 Conference victory on Saturday with a 19-11 win at Keuka. 

The Gators, which led 11-3 at the half and 18-4 after three quarters, had seven players find the back of the net, two of which tallied four or more goals.

Graduate student Anthony Marrone (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Township), the conference's leader in points (48), goals (45) and goals per game (3.46) led the RSC offensive attack with a game-high eight goals. The eight goals were the second-most in a single-game by an RSC player and helped the midfielder set the program's single-season record for goals in a season during the Saturday afternoon triumph.

Defender Joe Johnson (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) scored five points in the victory, with four goals and an assist. The senior scooped up four ground balls and caused three turnovers. 

Midfielder Jake McElwee (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty), a grad student, picked up a game-high eight groundballs and scored four points, while midfielder Adam Willig (Buffalo, NY/Amherst Central), a grad student, scored two points, scooped up three ground balls, and caused two turnovers.

Freshman Jordon Hankel (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane), (4-9) stopped seven Keuka shots as he registered the fourth victory of his young collegiate career.

Keuka's (3-8/0-5 E8) offensive attack was led by Mitchell Wise, who scored four goals while picking up four groundballs.

"Ground balls and clearing percentage were the two main focal points. We needed to get back to basics and run our systems correctly," shared Head Coach Erich Skelly after his first Empire 8 Conference victory. "We had a couple freshmen step up in big ways including Dakota Ferguson doing a great job on FO wings and Jacob Washington getting his first start on close defense. The guy who scored 8 goals in 3 quarters did okay too I guess. Joe Johnson is a machine, he has a heck of a motor playing both offense and defense at the LSM position."

Looking ahead, RSC (4-9/1-4 E8) continues E8 play on Wednesday as they host Utica. 

Gator Bites with Papa John's: The spring marks the first with Erich Skelly at the helm of the Gators…He arrived at RSC from Albright College in late January…Attacker Bailey Martin (Syracuse, NY/Onondaga Central), a grad student, and Johnson headline the 19 returning Gators…Johnson received an honorable mention for USILA All-American team and earned first-team All-Empire 8 Conference accolades in 2024, program firsts in both awards…Johnson was selected for the USILA Division III Team of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 16…He registered six goals, 19 groundballs and six caused turnovers in a 3-0 week…Martin commenced the season as the program's career leader for points (146) and goals (96)… He surpassed both the 150 career points and 100 career goals marks in the victory at Saint Joseph University - Long Island on March 15...Marrone became just the fifth RSC player to reach 100 career points vs. VTSU: Castleton on March 19…He set the program single-season record for goals in the win at Keuka on April 12...He finished the week leading the Empire 8 Conference in points (48), goals (45), and goals per-game (3.46)...Hankel was selected the Empire 8 Conference Goalkeeper of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 16…The rookie only permitted nine goals and registered a .775 save percentage in a 3-0 week…Midfielder Adam Willig (Buffalo, NY/Amherst Central), a grad student, Johnson, and Marrone were voted co-captains.