The Colgate men’s lacrosse Team cruised to another key victory on a blistery Tuesday night against the Bearcats of Binghamton University by a score of 12-6. The non-conference win extends the Raiders home winning streak to an impressive six games and the performance should also secure an upward movement in the team’s national rankings. Colgate is currently ranked 14th in the LAXnews rankings and 18th in the LaxPower Forum Poll. Junior Matt “La Cara de Luna” Lalli and sophomores Brandon “Rolls Royce Phantom” Corp and Kevin “El Ni?o” Collelouri,displayed their attacking prowess by combining for 10 of Colgate’s 12 goals. Lalli added four tallies, while Corp and Colleluori added three each.

The match started at a furious pace, with the Raiders carrying in their momentum from a hard fought Patriot League win over Lehigh during the weekend. Both sides exchanged goals throughout the first quarter, with Colgate burying the final shot to end the first quarter up 3-2. The Raiders displayed their superior abilities in the second frame, quickly striking for four unanswered goals on the Bearcats. Binghamton was finally able to answer towards the end of the first period, bringing the game within four goals at 7-3 going into halftime.

The Colgate defense proved that the lead was more than enough as it stifled the Binghamton offense in the third quarter with an effortless fashion reminiscent of the laid back West Coast laxing of a certain Jon “Mantis” Freeberg. The defense of seniors Colin “Big Whiskey” Hulme (who collected an assist and a game high seven ground balls), John Dunn and junior Tyler Philpot did not allow a goal until the final minutes of the third period.

The Bearcats farcical attempt at a comeback came to a head in the opening of the fourth quarter, as they struck quickly with an early goal, making the score 9-5. The Raiders, poised for victory in their home whites, were not easily fazed as they passed with ruthless efficiency around the pitch to find an open Colleluori for another score. Binghamton responded to the ‘Gate score, but it would be its last of the game. Lalli, with his brown locks flowing gracefully from beneath his helmet, dismissed the Bearcats with two game-ending works of poetry, more commonly known as goals, ending the contest 12-6.

Though Colgate cruised to victory, the statistics of the game surprisingly favored Binghamton in most categories. The Bearcats held a 33-24 advantage in the shot department. Both teams scrapped for 27 groundballs and the Bearcats held the edge on face-offs, winning 12-of-21. In net, sophomore Brian Cain made a career-high 11 saves, earning his third win of the season. Seniors Andy Summersgill and Brendan Hurley also scored for the Raiders, adding the other two goals for ‘Gate.

Colgate hopes to continue their success in the Patriot League on April 14th, as they hit the road to play the Leopards of Lafayette. The game begins at 1 p.m., with important Patriot League Tournament seeding implications hanging in the balance.