The Panthers men's lacrosse team earned its first win of the season Wednesday, claiming a 13-11 victory at Mohawk Valley Community College. The Panthers are now 1-3 overall and 1-1 in Region 3. Mohawk Valley drops to 0-3 overall and in region.

For the third time in four games this season, the Panthers scored first. Just 32 seconds into play, Louie Profetta (Ontario/Wayne H.S.) put the visitors on the board with a goal off an assist from Nick McCabe (Binghamton/Chenango Forks H.S.). As has happened each time this year, the lead evaporated quickly, this time with Mohawk Valley rattling off five straight goals to lead 5-1 late in the first quarter. McCabe came up big with a goal in the closing minutes of the quarter, stemming the tide and allowing the Panthers to end the quarter down just 5-2. The second quarter saw the Panthers outscore the Hawks 4-1 and send the game into the half all tied at 6-6.

After trading goals in the opening minutes of the third, Odanell Gonzalez (Queens/Jamaica H.S.) put the Panthers ahead with a goal at the 13:18 mark. Dillon Farrell (Endicott/Union-Endicott H.S.) made it a 9-7 lead with a score minutes later, but Mohawk Valley cut the lead in half to make it 9-8 heading into the fourth.

The final period started with the Panthers scoring four of the first five goals to take control. Leading 13-9 with 3:35 left, the Panthers withstood two late goals from the Hawks to close out the 13-11 win.

McCabe and Profetta each tallied five points, with McCabe getting there with four goals and one assist and Profetta registering three goals and two assists. Logan Swartz (Cortland/Homer H.S.) had one goal to go along with three assists, Gonzaelz had three goals, and Farrell finished with two goals and an assist.

Matt Nichols (Waverly/Waverly H.S.) earned the win in goal with 10 saves.

 Looking ahead

The Panthers play on Saturday, April 6 at Herkimer College.