BATAVIA, NY… The Men's Lacrosse program opened up their 2020 campaign with a convincing win over Finger Lakes Community College on Wednesday night (Mar. 4), 20-5.

The Cougars started the season ranked #2 in the first NJCAA National Men's Lacrosse poll, just one spot behind top-ranked rival Onondaga Community College, who the Cougars will face on the road on March 21.

Sophomore captain Austin Palmer got the scoring started for Genesee early in the first quarter, and the Cougars never looked back. Sophomore captain Baden Boyenko, who returned to action for the first time since tearing his ACL in 2017, added three more goals for Genesee in the first quarter. Goals from Donovan Nephew, Timothy Martino, and Spencer Nyhart would help the Cougars build a 7-0 lead by the end of the first.

Sophomore captain Jake Smeader recorded his first goal of the 2020 season early in the 2^nd quarter, followed by two more goals by Boyenko and another from Nephew. Genesee would take a 11-0 lead into halftime.

Finger Lakes got themselves on the scoreboard early in the 3^rd quarter, but Genesee answered back quickly with another goal from Nyhart, Tyler Goode's first goal of the season, and Smeader's second of the night. Finger Lakes would add two more goals to their total, to make the score 14-3, but Boyenko put another one in the net before the end of the 3^rd, to build a 15-3 lead.

The 4^th quarter saw much of the same from the Cougars, with Martino and Nyhart adding another goal to their totals, and Jordan Boyenko (brother of Baden Boyenko) tallying his first goal of the season. Uriah John would add one more for Genesee, bringing the score to 19-3. Finger Lakes added another goal, which was quickly followed by Jordan Boyenko's second goal of the evening. Finger Lakes put one final goal on the board before the final horn to make the final score 20-5, securing a 15-point season opening victory for Genesee.

Goalie Owen Anzalone made 5 saves on 8 shots in his 45 minutes of work.

Tyler Goode finished with 5 assists and 4 ground balls. Bryan Duran had 9 ground balls and Jake Smeader finished with 7 ground balls, in addition to his 2 goals. Baden Boyenko final stat line was 6 goals on 8 shots, 4 ground balls, and 2 assists.

Genesee (1-0) travels to The Castle at CCBC-Essex on Saturday (Mar 7) to take on the Knights at 12pm.