MEADVILLE, Pa. -- A strong second-half performance and fourth-quarter shutout lifted the Allegheny College men's lacrosse team to a 10-6 non-conference victory over Alfred University Wednesday evening at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

Leading 5-3 at the half, the Gators (1-2) surrendered three unanswered goals to start the third quarter. The three-goal run gave the Saxons (1-1) only their second lead of the day at 6-5 with six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third. 

From there, however, the Allegheny defense stymied the Alfred offense. The Gators held the Saxons off the scoreboard for the last 21:34 of the contest, including the entire fourth quarter. Even though the Saxons maintained their advantage at the faceoff dot and fired a dozen shots in the final period, AC goalie Garin Stearns (Hudson, Ohio/Revere) led the shutout effort by making six saves in the fourth quarter.

On the other end of the field, JP Rakis (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson) sparked the Gator offense. He netted the tying goal at the 5:31 mark of the third, the 100th point of his career, and then found Tomi Horsley (Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton) for a man-up, go-ahead goal two-and-a-half minutes later. Jack Cushwa (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) completed his hat trick at 9:05 in the fourth, while Alex Crespo (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and Rakis added insurance goals to seal the victory. Cushwa also joined the 100-point club with an assist on Rakis' final marker.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny ended the game with five consecutive goals to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 10-6 win.
• The Gator defense did not allow a goal in the second or fourth quarters.
• Shots were nearly identical, with Allegheny holding a 46-to-45 advantage.
• Alfred won 15-of-19 faceoffs, which helped the Saxons win the battle for ground balls, 39-to-28.
• Allegheny scored twice on six extra-man opportunities.
• The Saxons netted a man-up goal on one of their two extra-man opportunities.
• Rakis (3g-1a) and Cushwa (3g-1a) each logged a game-high four points.
• Crespo (2g-1a) and Horsley (2g) netted two goals apiece.
• Tyler Rippole (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) dished out one assist.
• Defenseman Jared Swisher (Cumberland, Maine/Berwick Academy) led the defense with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Stearns made 19 saves while giving up only six goals in goal for Allegheny.
• Cole Loewke scored a team-high three goals for Alfred.
• Saxon goalie Quinn Sullivan had a busy day with 20 saves and 10 goals allowed.

News and Notes

• Allegheny secured its first victory of the 2025 campaign, improving to 1-2 overall.
• The all-time series between Allegheny and Alfred is now tied at 1-1.
• Rakis and Cushwa made program history on Wednesday by becoming the second and third players to join the 100-point club.
• Cushwa has 86 goals with 14 assists for career points, while Rakis has 66 goals with 36 assists for 102 points.
• Horsley recorded the first multi-goal game of his young career.
• Stearns finished two saves shy of his single-game career-high with 19 against Alfred.

Up Next
Allegheny returns to Frank B. Fuhrer Field on Saturday, March 8, as the Gators host Hiram College at 3:00 p.m.