DANBURY, Conn. - Junior attackman Julian Duque (Mastic, N.Y.) tallied a game-high four goals and two assists, while graduate student midfielder Tyler Starrett (Redding, Conn.) chipped in with a hat trick and a pair of helpers to lift the Western Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team to a 12-9 victory over visiting non-conference opponent Farmingdale State College on a breezy Wednesday night at the Westside Athletic Complex. 

With the victory, the Wolves - who received votes in the latest NEILA Poll - improved to 5-2 overall while the Rams fell to 6-2. 

Senior goalkeeper Brendan Grove (Cheshire, Conn.) turned aside 12 shots to earn the win for the hosts, while junior netminder Dan Erler (Smithtown, N.Y.) earned 11 saves for the visitors. WestConn finished ahead in total shots, 43-30. 

Rookie attackman Adam Giovinco (Syosset, N.Y.) led the Rams with three goals while senior middie Kyle Kolano (Babylon, N.Y.) added a pair of scoring strikes.

WestConn broke the ice less than four minutes into the contest when Duque gathered a feed from junior midfielder Matt Sweeney (Rocky Point, N.Y.) and found the back of the net. Farmingdale countered with a pair before the Wolves put together a three-goal spurt to take a 4-2 lead. The Rams answered yet again before rookie midfielder Sam Rosa (Trumbull, Conn.) netted his second goal of the year, giving WestConn a 6-5 advantage at the break.

The Wolves appeared to be taking control in the third quarter. However, up 9-6, the Wolves were called for an illegal stick penalty setting up three minutes of man-up time for Farmingdale. Giovinco netted his 11th goal of the campaign shortly into the penalty duration. But the Wolves were able to minimize the damage. Moments later, Duque netted his team-leading 25th marker of the season to regain the three-goal advantage, 10-7, early in the fourth stanza. The Rams attempted to climb back into the contest but three consecutive penalties gave WestConn the opportunity to run down the clock and earn the 12-9 win. 

WestConn returns to action on Friday night for its Little East Conference opener at Plymouth State University. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but has been moved up due to impending inclement weather.