Home Opener Ends with Loss to Nation's #8 Team

Anthony Irizarry
Anthony Irizarry

Playing at home for the first time this season, the Tompkins Cortland Community College lacrosse team hosted the #8-ranked team in the nation Saturday. Taking on Monroe Community College, the Panthers struggled to mount much of an attack against the Tribunes, falling by a final score of 13-5. Both teams are now 1-1 on the season.

Monroe, who entered the game off a loss to #4-Genesee Community College, scored in the second minute of action for the early lead. The Panthers responded with a goal by Anthony Irizarry (Middletown/Middletown H.S.) with 8:55 left in the quarter, but Monroe responded with a score just 17 seconds later. The Tribunes found the net again before he quarter ended to take 3-1 lead.

Another quick goal to start the second made it 4-1, but Irizarry and Tyler Ponticello (Homer/Homer H.S.) went back-to-back with scores 24-seconds apart to cut the deficit to one with 13:00 left in the second. The Panthers couldn't hold onto the momentum, however, as Monroe ran off three straight over a three minutes span to lead 7-3. Connor O'Brien (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) found the net for the final score of the first half, but the Panthers went into the break down 7-4.

Monroe extended the lead with the first two goals of the third quarter before Jonathon Phillips (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) picked up his score of the season to make it 9-5 after three quarters. The Tribunes outscored the Panthers 4-0 in the fourth to seal the win for the visitors.

Tompkins Cortland goalie Bryan Iannello (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) was strong in goal, recording 15 saves.

The Panthers are back on the road Wednesday, traveling to Watertown to take on Jefferson Community College. The game is scheduled to be played at General Brown High School, starting at 7 p.m.