BUFFALO, N.Y. – Closing out their home schedule of the season, the D'Youville University men's lacrosse team handled the University of the District of Columbia by a score of 25-4 Thursday on Senior Day.
 
The Saints (6-7, 2-3 ECC) were led by Stefano Evan (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) with eight points (7 goals, 1 assist) and becoming the all-time points getter in program history. Brady Ruffalo (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) added seven goals with five other players accounting for three points each. In all, DYU had 10 players find the back of the net. Evan had an all-around solid game, grabbing eight groundballs while causing three turnovers, both leading the team. Jake Bush (Lakeview, N.Y./Frontier) also had a team-high eight groundballs from the face-off circle.
 
D'Youville led wire-to-wire, shutting the Firebirds out in the first quarter while scoring eight goals. Ruffalo led the offense with four goals while Nick Sholett (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) had a pair of goals. DYU continued the strong start to the game as they went up 12-0 after another goal form Ruffalo with 4:06 left until the half. UDC finally got on the board with 3:54 in the second and added another one quickly after to make it 12-2. The Saints got those two goals back before the break, with Sam Radka (Buffalo, N.Y./Depew) and Carsyn Kent (Whitby, Ontario/ Donald A. Wilson Secondary) finding the goal.
 
Coming out of halftime, D'Youville scored three times to take a commanding 17-2 lead powered behind a pair of goals from Evan. The Firebirds got one back but goals from Ruffalo and Luciano Gonzalez (Coquitlam, British Columbia/Centennial Secondary) scored as D'Youville had a 19-3 lead heading into the final frame of the game. In the fourth quarter, DYU outscored UDC 6-1, including three goals from Evan.
 
William Nichols (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) earned the win in net, making eight saves in 30 minutes of play. Casey Berns (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) went the rest of the way, making 10 saves.
 
The hope for the postseason is very much alive as the Saints close out the regular season next Friday, April 18th, as they face Roberts Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. If the team wins, they are into the ECC Championships