KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Lacrosse team defeated Lycoming College 12-9 on a rainy Wednesday night at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex.

Keuka College (2-0) once again showed balanced scoring as nine Wolves combined for the team's 12 goals. Devon Gerhardt, Dylan DeLucia, and Harrison Root each scored a pair of goals for the Wolves.

Keuka College 12 vs. Lycoming College 9
Lycoming would strike first, scoring 69 seconds into the game for the early advantage. DeLucia answered, but the Warriors regained the lead 2-1 midway through the quarter. The score stayed there until the final minutes. Robert Hill took a long pass from goalie Dylan Hoad and weaved his way through traffic. The long-stick midfielder ripped a shot to tie the game at 2-2. Devon Gerhardt gave the Wolves the lead, but Lycoming scored in the last minute to square the game up after one.

The Wolves controlled the ball early in the second quarter and cashed in. Ian Rickard set up Harrison Root for the goal to give the Wolves the lead. Matt Jerman added to the Keuka lead with seven minutes left before halftime. Lycoming pulled one back on the man-up, but Keuka College had an answer. The Wolves scored on their own extra-man opportunity as Nicholas Pipher set up Root for his second goal. The Wolves led 6-4 at the half.

The two teams traded goals early with DeLucia scoring on the man-up for the Wolves. Lycoming had a man-up advantage a minute later. Logan McMurtry caused a Warrior turnover and Daniel Rustay showcased his speed. The junior is a clear specialist for the Wolves and raced past the Lycoming players getting the clear and wasting time on the penalty. However, Rustay saw a path to the goal and took it as he scored on the man-down to give Keuka an 8-5 lead. Lycoming scored a pair to draw the margin to one, but Nicholas Pipher scored for the Green and Gold to send the game to the fourth quarter with Keuka leading 9-7.

Lycoming quickly got the game back to a one-goal margin in the fourth. But Keuka College was able to respond again. This time, Pipher set up Devon Gerhardt for the tally to re-establish the two-goal lead. The Warriors cut it back to a one-goal game with 9:46 left to play, but the Keuka College defense stepped up. Over the next six minutes, Dylan Hoad did not see a shot in goal. The Keuka defense caused four Lycoming turnovers during that span with Hill forcing three and McMurtry getting one. Keuka then showcased a quick counterattack as Gerhardt found Tre Lloyd for his first goal of the year. On the ensuing faceoff, Frankie Rivera won the faceoff with Logan McMurtry getting the ground ball. The defender then returned the ball to Rivera who scored to put the game away as the Wolves defeated the Warriors 12-9 on Wednesday night.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College earned their first win over Lycoming in twenty years, last defeating the Warriors in 2003. Lycoming leads the all-time series 5-3
• The Green and Gold have won three home openers in a row and are 12-8 in the first game on their home field in the last 20 seasons
• Keuka College held the edge at the faceoff x winning 64% of the faceoffs. Enrique Castillo had a game-high 10 wins. Frankie Rivera went 6-7 on his faceoffs
• Nicholas Pipher ended up leading Keuka College in points with a goal and three assists
• Logan McMurtry had a solid defensive effort with a career-high seven ground balls and four caused turnovers
• McMurtry's assist on the Rivera goal was also the first collegiate point for the junior
• Dylan Hoad finished with seven saves in goal for the Wolves to earn the win. The graduate student moved into a tie for seventh on the career wins list at Keuka

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves have a quick turnaround for their next game. Keuka College will face Concordia University Wisconsin for the first time on Friday. Faceoff from the Jepson Community Athletic Complex is slated for 3 p.m.