Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The 15th-ranked Ithaca College men's lacrosse team (1-0) posted an 18-7 victory over visiting Oswego to kick off its 2014 season Tuesday afternoon at Higgins Stadium.

After leading 4-2 at the end of the first, Ithaca posted eight unanswered second-period goals for a 12-2 advantage at intermission. The Bombers increased the gap to 16-4 at the end of the third. Oswego edged Ithaca, 3-2, in the final frame for an 18-7 final.

Senior Pat Slawta led all players with six points on four goals and a pair of assists. Junior James Manilla and rookie John Januszkiewicz added five points each. Januszkiewicz matched Slawta's four goals and chipped in an assist, while Manilla had a game-best three assists and two scores. Freshman Justin Bird and senior Ryan Burns had three points apiece. Bird recorded two goals and dished out an assist, while Burns had one tally and two assists. Freshman Alex Sullivan and junior Steve Danylyshyn each had one and one. Matt Greenblatt, Jake Long and Michael Walker accounted for Ithaca's other three scores.

Ithaca was led by senior Brandon Henne who was 13-for-17 in faceoffs. Ithaca led the category, 19-10. Junior Jimmy Ryan collected six ground balls. Defensively, Eli Gobrecht forced a trio of turnovers and senior Casey Schattner added two.

Sophomore Scott Sidnam, 2013 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, earned the win in goal. He made six stops in 48:49 of action. Freshmen Justin Isaacs and Jack Deragon relieved Sidnam in the final period, helping to seal the double-digit margin.

The Bombers led Oswego 51-30 in shots and 41-29 in ground balls.

Ithaca improved to 15-2 all-time in a series history dating back to 1975. It was the season opener for both squads.

The Bombers will travel to top-ranked Rochester Institute of Technology Saturday, March 1 for a 1 p.m. game.