ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca men's lacrosse team (1-0) opened its 2012 campaign with a 13-8 victory over visiting Lycoming (2-2) on Wednesday evening at Higgins Stadium.

Despite a slow start, the Bombers rewrote a 3-0 deficit after the first frame to lead, 4-3, at 1:26 of the second. Lycoming knotted action, 4-4, before the break and again at 6-6 at 8:34 of the third, but Ithaca posted five straight, bridged between the third and final periods, to take the lead indefinitely. The Warriors scored a pair to pull within 11-8 with five minutes lingering in the game, but Ithaca sealed the victory two scores in the final 2:53 of play to remain undefeated against Lycoming. The Bombers hold a 7-0 series lead, with this victory being their first on their home turf.

Senior Tom Mongelli posted a career-high tying and game-best five goals to lead the Bombers to victory. He added four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Junior Connor Lowe posted a hat trick and senior Devin Weinshank added two goals and two forced turnovers. Freshman James Manilla and sophomore Pat Slawta each dished out two assists. Senior Brian DiBetta won 12 of 21 contested faceoffs and scooped up a career- and team-best six groundballs. Classmate Chris Duncan picked up five groundballs and sophomore Jacob Long and junior Adam Wacenske four.

Senior goalie Brendan Green made a career- and game-best 15 saves in earning his first collegiate victory in goal.

After a scoreless first frame, Ithaca posted four straight in the second to gain a 4-3 edge on a pair of tallies each from Lowe and Mongelli. Lycoming answered with one of their own at 1:14 to close out the half deadlocked at 4-4.

DiBetta capitalized on a Slawta assist to open the third period before Mongelli netted his third giving Ithaca a 6-4 lead. Lycoming recorded the next two goals to tie the game at 6-6, but Ithaca responded with five consecutive. Weinshank went unassisted at 5:15 of the third before assisting Mongelli three minutes later. Manilla scored his first collegiate goal to give the Bombers a 9-6 spread at the end of the third. Weinshank added his second two minutes into the final frame before Lowe made it an 11-6 game. Lycoming surged with a pair of scores before Lowe found Long at the three-minute mark and Mongelli added a man-up goal at 1:16 to finalize all scoring in Ithaca's favor, 13-8.

Ithaca held a slight 46-43 edge in shots and a 42-39 gap in groundballs.

Box Score