CANTON -- After playing back-to-back games on the road, the Malone University men's lacrosse team was back at home on Saturday afternoon. 

The Pioneers welcomed D'Youville University to town for a non-conference game. 

Malone was down a pair of goals at halftime, but outscored the Saints in the second half to pick up their first home win of the season by a final score of 18-17. 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University Pioneers 18 - D'Youville University Saints 17
• Records: Malone (4-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | D'Youville (1-4, 0-0 ECC)
• Location: Canton | Pioneer Park - King Field

THE GAME
The Pioneers lit up the scoreboard early and often in the first quarter. Malone scored the first four goals of the game unanswered within the first five minutes of play. 

However D'Youville battled back to make it 4-3. 

Both sides continued to trade goals late in the quarter, and the score was tied 6-6 after the first 15 minutes of play. 

The Saints had a slight advantage in the second quarter. 

Zac Smargiasso's second goal of the afternoon tied the game at 9-9 with 3:47 left in the half, but D'Youville closed the second quarter with back-to-back scores to take an 11-9 lead to the halftime break. 

The Saints continued their run into the early part of the third quarter. D'Youville scored the opening three goals of the second half to push their lead out 14-9. 

At that point Malone began to completely take over the game. 

Nolan Winter's second goal of the afternoon ignited a 7-0 run by the Pioneers that put Malone up 16-14 by the end of the third quarter. 

Talon Heath capped off that run with back-to-back goals to help give the Pioneers the advantage. 

Both teams traded scores throughout the fourth quarter, but in the end Malone was able to hang on for the 18-17 win. 

DETAILS

• Nolan Winter led Malone with a season-high five goals. 
• Talon Heath finished with 4 goals and 4 assists to push his season point total out to 39. 
• Kenny Kaiser and Ramsey Burnard each added three goals, while Zac Smargiasso netted a pair. 
• Micah Pennington scored his first goal of the season. 
• The back-to-back reigning Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Week, Phillip Bell, made 18 saves in goal.

WHAT'S NEXT
Malone will travel to Frostburg State University on Wednesday. The game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit www.malonepioneers.com.