Graduate student Stew Hutchinson recorded a hat trick and a strong response to a second-half run by the Bombers powered the No. 9 St. Lawrence University men's lacrosse team to a 12-10 win over Ithaca on Friday night under the lights in Canton, New York.

Stew Hutchinson led the way with three goals and a helper, while Chase Malatesta and Judge Muphy each tallied two goals and an assist and Cody Sipher scored twice. Ben Hutchinson, Connor Woolley and Bobby Bartlett also scored for the Scarlet and Brown. Paddy Condon posted an impressive run in the faceoff circle going 20-for-24 and picked up a team-best 12 ground balls, while Tripp Clark picked up six and Conor Temple caused three turnovers.

The Hutchinson brothers opened scoring for the Saints, as Ben Hutchinson found his brother Stew on the doorstep, putting the Saints up 1-0. St. Lawrence opened the game on a four goal run, before the Bombers netted two of their own for a 4-2 game after the first 15 minutes of play.

Jake Erickson tallied the last goal of the first quarter for Ithaca and scored the first of the second to bring the game back within one. With three goals apiece in the second frame, the Saints held a 7-5 lead at halftime.

Malatesta scored his 14th goal of the season out of the break and was followed up by Bartlett, who tallied his first career goal after capitalizing on a loose ball, cruising down the field and going straight to the net to put the Saints up 9-5.

A four-goal run from the Bombers, including a man-down tally, through the remainder of the third and start to the fourth showed a tie game with 11:40 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Saints responded well scoring the next three off the sticks of Woolley, Stew Hutchinson and Murphy to seal the conference win.

"That was a great effort under the lights," said head coach Mike Mahoney. "I thought we got great goaltending and face off play, but most importantly we had a great response to their run to tie the game up. That is a great sign moving forward as we continue to grow as a team."
 

 
Jake Erickson led Ithaca with four goals and an assist, while Demetri Lowry picked up a team-best five ground balls and caused three turnovers.

Michael Marinello made 10 saves between the pipes, while Ryan LaForty made 12 for the Bombers.

The Saints got the better of the shots 36-27, including 24-20 in shots on goal, and dominated in the faceoff circle, going 20-6.

St. Lawrence improved to 7-1 overall, while Ithaca fell to 5-2. Both teams moved to 1-1 in Liberty League play and is scheduled to host St. John Fisher on Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m.