NAZARETH DEFEATS GENESEO, 10-8
Hotaling scores three goals, reinjures shoulder
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (March 10, 2007) -- Senior attackman Ryan Hotaling (pictured) saw his first action of the season Saturday and scored three times and added an assist before reinjuring his shoulder in the second quarter of Nazareth's 10-8 men's lacrosse victory over visiting Geneseo.

The victory enabled the ninth-ranked Golden Flyers to remain unbeaten at 3-0. Geneseo, ranked seventh nationally, was playing its first game of the season.

Hotaling, a two-time All-American at attack for the Golden Flyers with more than 100 career goals, missed the team's first two games with a shoulder injury, but Nazareth was able to win games over Gordon and Springfield.

Against Geneseo, Hotaling returned to the starting lineup and scored three unassisted goals and assisted Chad Amidon on a man-up goal in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Hotaling reinjured his shoulder with 6:50 left and drew a 30-second pushing penalty while Geneseo was attempting to clear the ball. He is questionable for Nazareth's next game -- Tuesday against Connecticut College at Stony Brook at 6 p.m.

The score was tied 2-2 late in the first quarter when Hotaling intercepted a Geneseo clearing pass and scored unassisted to give the Golden Flyers a 3-2 lead after 15 minutes.

That goal was the first of four straight that Nazareth would score. In the second quarter, junior Steve Cutia twice scored man-up goals off passes from freshman Erinn O'Hara as Nazareth extended its lead to 7-3 by halftime. Hotaling and sophomore Jim Wall also scored in the second quarter.

Nazareth scored three more times in the third quarter and extended its lead to 10-4 before Geneseo made things interesting by scoring the game's last four goals, including the only three goals of the fourth quarter. O'Hara, Conor O'Keefe and Kevin Kimball had Nazareth's third-period goals.

Mike Pizzuto scored his second goal of the game for Geneseo with 3:05 left in the third quarter to trim Nazareth's lead to 10-5. In the fourth quarter, Tim McDermott won the opening face-off and scored unassisted just six seconds into the period. Joe Malach scored off an assist from Owahn Bazydlo about a minute later and Andrew Hanover added a man-up goal with nine minutes left to make it 10-8.

Geneseo had 13 shots in the fourth quarter, but Nazareth's defense stood firm and senior goalie Pat Mullin helped the cause by making 15 saves. Geneseo had advantages in shots (47-32) and face-offs (14-8). Geneseo goalie Tim Garback made 12 saves.

After Tuesday's game against Connecticut College, Nazareth plays again Saturday against St. Lawrence University at Corcoran High School in Syracuse at 12 p.m.