CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - Freshman attacker Mike Tota (Webster, NY) had an impressive college debut scoring four goals with two assists to lead the No. 3 Cortland men's lacrosse team past  No. 18 Western New England College 15-7 Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28) in the season opener for both teams before 425 chilly fans at John Jay High School.

Sophomore attacker Jay DiStefano (Huntington, NY) also tallied four goals and had an assist while sophomore midfielder Chris DeLuca (Sayville, NY) had a five-point game with two goals and three assists.

Cortland started strong scoring twice in the opening 25 seconds. Tota knocked in his first college goal on a rebound shot following a save just 20 seconds into the contest. The Red Dragons won the ensuing face-off and DeLuca fired a pass to DiStefano who rifled home a shot just five seconds later.

WNEC senior attacker Brody Savoie (Wilbraham, MA) cut the margin to one with a goal at the 10:27 mark before DiStefano netted his second goal (with an assist from DeLuca) six seconds later.

Cortland held a 5-1 lead after the opening quarter before the Golden Bears scored three times over a 3:30 span.

Savoie hit the back of the net at the 10:33 mark of the second quarter before junior attacker Tim Santye (Skillman, NJ) tallied twice to get the Golden Bears within 5-4 with 7:03 left before halftime. Both Savoie and Santye finished with three goals apiece.

Then the roof fell in as Cortland rattled off eight consecutive goals to take a commanding 13-4 lead early in the fourth period.

The Red Dragons held a 39-26 advantage in shots and kept the Golden Bears off the board in the third stanza in the battle of national powers.

Senior goalie Matt Hipenbecker (Mountain Lakes, NJ) stopped seven shots for Cortland while DeLuca also won 12-of-14 face-offs and picked-up four ground balls.

Western New England College sophomore goalie Ben Barlow (Newport, RI) compiled 15 saves, including a couple from point-blank range.

Senior defender Jared Pabis (Wilbraham, MA) had the other goal for the Golden Bears, which ended Cortland's run in the final period.

Senior midfielder Mike Welsch (Yorktown, NY) had an assist as did freshman midfielder Patrick White (Milton, MA) for his first college point.

Sophomore defender Josh Tullis (Medford, NY) won 8-of-13 face-offs. Senior midfielder Derek Mantey (Waltham, MA) had four ground balls while senior defenders Matt McAnneny (Wakefield, MA) amd Stephen Toomy (Northborough, MA) each had three.

Special thanks to the Golden Bears' parents who provided dinner for the players, coaching staff, and other team members at a local church following the game.