CLEVELAND, Ohio – The University of Utah Lacrosse team won its final regular season road game at Cleveland State today, clinching a 16-7 victory. Utah improved to 9-4 overall and 7-1 in ASUN play with one final regular season game to go.
The Utes trailed 1-0 from the 14:04 mark in the first quarter until they scored their first goal with 4:56 on the clock, the only time Utah would be behind for the remainder of the game. Utah would go on a 6-0 run that would eventually lead to the Utes putting up 10 total goals in the second quarter.
Utah scored four goals in the second half, but also only allowed four goals in return, sealing the nine-point victory. The Utes out-shot Cleveland State 59-28, including 34 shots on goal, also recording 46 ground balls and a season-high 15 caused turnovers.
GAME LEADERS
Utah had 10 different players contribute goals in the game with senior
Tyler Bradbury leading the Utes with a season-high four goals and four assists to tie his career-high in points (8). Senior
Jordan Hyde pitched in four goals of his own with sophomore
Ryan Stines adding four points on a goal and three assists.
Sophomore
Nikko DiPonio was outstanding for the Utes on defense today, recording eight ground balls along with a career-high and school record six caused turnovers. True freshmen
Mikey Crane and
Luca Pivetta each added two caused turnovers and a ground ball with junior
Colby Plotts also finishing the game with four ground balls, a caused turnover, a goal and two assists.
Faceoff specialist
Tyler Kloeckl led the squad in ground balls with nine, also winning 13-of-24 faceoffs. In goal, sophomore
Colin Lenskold only seven goals while racking up 12 saves.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Tyler Bradbury tied his career-high in points with eight, which is also tied for third all-time at Utah. His eight points gives him 202 total in his career, the first player in school history to reach the 200-point mark.
- Utah's 30 points against Cleveland State marked the fourth time this season and the Utes have had 30-or-more points.
- Utah's 46 ground balls ties for the sixth-most in school history with its 15 caused turnovers ranking second all-time.
- Utah is 22-6 under head coach Andrew McMinn when producing 30-or-more ground balls.
- Nikko DiPonio's career-high and school record six caused turnovers ties for the most by a player in NCAA Division I lacrosse this season.
UP NEXT
The Utes will return to Ute Field on Saturday, April 27 to host Queens College of Charlotte for Senior Night. The game will start at 6 p.m. with tickets available
here.