No. 4 Cougars Finish Strong against No. 2 Lions in Men’s Lacrosse Home Opener

Certainly if there was a 'Game of the Week' in the early National Junior College Athletic Association men's lacrosse season, it came March 17 with the second-ranked Nassau Community College Lions versus the fourth-ranked Genesee Community College Cougars.

The early season matchup between two of the top-four teams in the nation ended with the visiting Lions taking the contest 13-6, but not before the Cougars came on strong in the end.

From the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game, the teams looked like either could have come away with the win as both teams evenly split the game's last 10 goals with five apiece.

The late Genesee rally began and ended with Kevin McParlene, who not only netted three of those five goals but also ended a scoring drought that saw the Cougars go without a tally for more than a quarter-and-a-half.

McParlene scored his team's second goal just past midway in the third and then added a pair of goals in the game's final five minutes.

Four other Cougars recorded multi-point games. Jason Chiodo got Genesee's opening goal late in the first quarter that left the Cougars trailing by just a pair after the opening quarter.

Evan Hollfelder and Jordan Brennan sandwiched goals in the third quarter between McParlene's three tallies to bring Genesee's deficit to 9-4 late in the third.

Chiodo, Hollfelder all added assists, while Brennan registered a pair of helpers in joining McParlene for multi-point performances.

Garrett Lazore made a dozen saves from 25 shots on net. Genesee will next host fellow Region-III opponent Hudson Valley Community College March 21 with a 4 p.m. start.