ITHACA, N.Y. -- The eighth-ranked men's lacrosse team recorded a 23-7 victory over Elmira Saturday afternoon to finish 7-0 in the Empire 8 and pick up their fourth straight regular season conference title. The Bombers finish the regular season with a record of 14-2, a school record for wins in a season. The win also extended Ithaca’s conference record to 23 consecutive Empire 8 wins, which ties the conference record for consecutive wins in all sports. The record was set by St. John Fisher in men’s basketball from 2004-06.

 

Junior Craig Lepiane (West Irondequoit/Rochester) led the Bombers with three goals and two assists while classmate Matt Nelligan (Pingree School/Rowley, Mass.) tallied two goals and two assists in the game. Freshman Mike Lohan (Sanford H. Calhoun/Merrick) recorded four points in the win, including the first three goals of his collegiate career. Sophomore Mike Cintineo (Honeoye Falls-Lima/Honeoye Falls) and junior #Logan Bobzien# (Arapahoe/Centennial, Colo.) tallied two goals and one assist each.

 

The Bombers took control of the game early as they scored seven of the eight first quarter goals and never looked back. Nelligan gave Ithaca the lead 36-seconds into the game. Lepiane opened the second quarter scoring with a man-up goal 2:29 in to the period, which proved to be the game-winner. Lohan added his first career goal to give the Bombers a 10-1 lead.

 

Mike Lohan recorded a career-high four points

thaca had 15 different goal scorers in the game, scored six extra man goals on seven attempts, and recorded 23 faceoff wins on 31 opportunities. The Bombers also had 18 successful clears on 22 attempts.

 

Senior Dennis Butler (Pleasantville/Pleasantville) made 13 saves in three quarters for the Bombers, while sophomore Ben Connery (Homer/Homer) recorded a career-high seven saves in the fourth quarter.

 

The Bombers will host St. John Fisher on Friday, April 27 in a semifinal game of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. The game is set to begin at 4 p.m. at Upper Terrace Field.