BUFFALO, N.Y. – Returning home for the first time in nearly a month, The D'Youville University men's lacrosse team grinded out a 9-6 win over Lake Erie College Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Saints (3-1) were led by Brady Ruffalo (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) with three points (2 goals, 1 assists) with Stefano Evan (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), Jonathan Abbarno (Chargin, Ohio/Kenston), and Nick Sholett (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) each accounting for two points each. Logan Schwartz (Depew, N.Y./Depew) led the way in terms of groundballs and caused turnovers with four and three.
 
It was a stalemate for much of the first quarter of action until Suman Ramlall (Atlanta, Ga./Grayson) found Ruffalo with 1:17 left in the frame.
 
DYU carried the momentum over to begin the second quarter as Evan made it 2-0 with 13:08 left until the half. The Storm got one on the board, but Caleb Pate (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) made it 3-1. LEC made it a 3-2 game but another quick response from Evan made it 4-2 with 42 seconds left in the quarter. The Storm would score once more before the break to make it 4-3 going into halftime.
 
Coming out of the break, Luciano Gonzalez (Coquitlam, British Columbia) got in the scoring column with a dish from Sholett. Lake Erie responded once again to keep the game within one goal with 8:14 left in the third. The Saints caught fire to close out the period, scoring three unanswered to make it 8-4. Abbarno started the scoring followed by a goal from Obrigh Tallchief (Irving, N.Y./Lake Shore) and finished with Ruffalo finding the net again.
 
The Storm tried to battle back in the fourth but could only tally a pair of goals.
 
Casey Berns (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) went the distance in net, making 12 saves.
 
The Saints will have a quick turnaround as they host RV Saint Michael's College Friday at 2 p.m.