Milestone: No. 15 Fisher Finally Beats Ithaca
from press release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher
College men's lacrosse team jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never
looked back, as the No. 15 Cardinals cruised to a 13-4 win over
Ithaca College on Wednesday at Fisher's Growney Stadium in the
Empire 8 Conference season-opener for both teams.
With the win, Fisher improves to 8-0 overall and picks up its first
win in men's lacrosse over Ithaca, who had won the first 12
meetings between the two schools.
"Beating Ithaca is another small step forward for our program,"
says head coach John C. Johnson, now in his fifth season at the
College after coaching for 26 years at Canandaigua Academy. "Our
top goal for this season is to win the Empire 8 Conference and
starting 1-0 in conference play has us headed in the right
direction."
Fisher took the lead for good just 33 seconds into the contest when
sophomore Kyle Denhoff scored his team-leading 20th goal of the
year. The Cardinals added three more goals over the next 11 minutes
– all of which were scored by different players, but were
assisted by senior Chris Schmidt.
The Cardinals, who led 8-3 at intermission, extended its lead to
9-3 on Denhoff's second of three goals with 12:45 left in the
third. After an Ithaca goal made it 9-4, Fisher ended the contest
with another 4-0 spurt.
It was a career day for both Chris and Ryan Schmidt (no relation).
Ryan Schmidt scored a career-high four goals, while Chris Schmidt
registered a personal-best four assists. Denhoff enjoyed his fifth
game this year with three or more goals.
Sophomore Mitch Ritchie scored three goals for the third time this
season, while Dave Malone and Kory Smart finished with one goal and
one assist. Scott Bowen also scored in the win, while Mike Cummins
picked up an assist.
Jon Cortina stopped eight shots to earn the win in net. Erich
Rassow went 13-for-21 on face-offs and finished with three ground
balls. Cortina and Andrew Knoblauch scooped up a team-best four
ground balls.
Ithaca (2-6), who was ranked as high as No. 12 in the USILA poll
earlier this year, was led by Devin Weinshank, who scored two
goals.
Fisher will return to action at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Hartwick
College. A win by the Cardinals would mark the second straight year
they have started 9-0, tying the College-record for consecutive
wins and best start to a season.
