HOBOKEN, N.J. – Senior attacker Ryan Heath (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and Billy Fuchs (Merrick/Sanford H. Calhoun) each scored three goals as nationally third-ranked Cortland opened the season with a 9-7 victory at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Heath also assisted on a goal for the Red Dragons, last year's NCAA Division III runner-up and the 2006 national champion. Senior Kyle Simensky (Locust Valley) added two goals and junior Joey Morgan (Putnam Valley) scored once, while senior Josh Cittadino (Baldwin) won 13-of-19 faceoffs. Junior goalie Matt Hipenbecker (Mountain Lakes, NJ) made nine saves for the victory.

Sophomore Daniel Prakopcyk (Clinton, NJ/North Hunterdon) led Stevens (1-1) with three goals and senior John Dolny (Mountain Lakes, NJ) scored twice. Freshman Dave Decker (Califon, NJ/Voorhees) made 15 saves for the Ducks, who are the top "also receiving votes" team in the latest USILA Division III Top 20 poll.

Stevens took an 1-0 lead just 23 seconds into the game on a man-up goal by Prakopcyk, but a Morgan goal 35 seconds later and two goals by Fuchs gave the Red Dragons a 3-1 lead after the first quarter. The hosts came back to outscore Cortland 3-1 in the second quarter and the teams were tied 4-4 at halftime.

Fuchs opened the second-half scoring 40 seconds into the third quarter and Heath added a man-up goal with 10:12 left to give Cortland a 6-4 lead. Prakopcyk answered with a man-up goal at the 7:55 mark, but Simensky tallied a man-down goal with 2:23 remaining and the Red Dragons took a 7-5 lead into the final quarter.

The lead grew to 9-5 on a Heath goal 2:47 into the fourth and a Simensky goal with 4:32 remaining. Stevens scored twice in the final two minutes to create the final margin.

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HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 1, 2008) – SUNY Cortland senior attackers Ryan Heath (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Billy Fuchs (Merrick, N.Y.) scored three goals apiece in leading the third-ranked Red Dragons to a 9-7 win over the Stevens Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. Cortland, which won the national title in 2006 and lost in the Division III title game last year, is now 1-0 on the season. The Ducks fell to 1-1 with the loss.

Stevens was led by sophomore attacker Daniel Prakopcyk (Clinton, N.J.), who scored a team-high three goals. Senior attacker John Dolny (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) finished with two goals. Junior midfielder Matt Keating (Chatham, N.J.) added a goal and two assists. Junior midfielder Jaeke Donahue (Tiverton, R.I.) chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Sophomore midfielder Bobby Steinhauser (Boonton Township, N.J.) won five faceoffs for the Ducks and picked up a team-high six ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Dave Decker (Califon, N.J.) made 15 saves and had five ground balls in the loss.

Cortland also received a solid performance out of senior attacker Kyle Simensky (Locust Valley, N.Y.), who totaled two goals. Senior midfielder Josh Cittadino (Baldwin, N.Y.) led the way with nine ground balls and won 13-of-19 faceoffs for the Red Dragons. Junior goalkeeper Matt Hipenbecker (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) earned the victory by making nine saves.

Just 14 seconds into the game, Cittadino was whistled for a tripping call. Stevens took advantage as Prakopcyk scored a man-up goal 19 seconds later as he ripped a shot past Hipenbecker. Cortland responded by scoring three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Fuchs had the last two goals of the period for the Red Dragons.

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2008-03-01