BUFFALO, N.Y. – In the midst of a three-game homestand, the D'Youville University men's lacrosse team fell to RV Saint Michael's College Friday afternoon by a score of 23-10.
 
The Saints (3-2) were led offensively by Brady Ruffalo (Webster, N.Y./ Webster Schroeder) with five points (3 goals, 2 assists) and Stefano Evan (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and Obrigh Tallchief (Irving, N.Y./Lake Shore) each having three points. Logan Schwartz (Depew, N.Y./Depew) had a solid game with six groundballs and six caused turnovers, a new individual game record.
 
The Purple Knights jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but Tallchief was able to get DYU on the board with an assist going to Ruffalo. D'Youville was able to get one more in the net in the first quarter with a goal from Jonathan Abbarno (Chargin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) but Saint Michael's led 8-2 after the first quarter of action.
 
To start the second, SMC scored first but Evan responded to make it 9-3 with 11 minutes left until the break. The team's traded a pair of goals each with Ruffalo scoring a man-up goal to end the first half as DYU trailed 11-5 going into the half.
 
Coming into the third quarter, Tallchief got back on the board, but Saint Michael's answered with a pair of goals of their own to make it 13-6 with 8:36 left in the frame. Ruffalo added another man-up goal but another two goals from the Purple Knights helped extend their lead to 15-7. Ruffalo had the hot hand, scoring his third man-up goal to make it 15-8. SMC got it to an eight-goal lead, but Evan tacked another on the end the quarter, 16-9.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Purple Knights added cushion to their lead, outscoring DYU 7-1.
 
Casey Berns (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) earned the loss in net, making four saves in one half of action. William Nichols (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) finished the game out, making 10 saves.
 
DYU will close out their homestand this Sunday, March 2nd, as they host Assumption University at 1 p.m.