UTICA, NY – Jackie Vicencio (/) (Miller Place/Miller Place) and Laura Keating (/) (Horseheads/Whitesboro) of the Utica College women's lacrosse team each tallied four goals a piece but it was not enough as visiting Hartwick defeated the Pioneers 13-11 Wednesday night.

Hartwick improved to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the Empire 8 while Utica is now 3-6 and 1-2 in the conference.

The Hawks jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead at 16:43 behind three Jamie Boulten (Camillus) goals. The Pioneers would not go down without a fight as Vicencio, Keating and Casey Pelletier (/) (Mercy/Middletown, CT) each netted a goal in the final seven minutes of the first half.

Hartwick carried a 9-6 lead into halftime after Jessica DiBrita (Rockville Center) netted a goal with 35 seconds left in the first.
Utica outplayed Hartwick in the second half, outscoring the Hawks 5-4. The Pioneers scored four consecutive goals in a four minute span to tie the game up at 10-10 with 18:44 left in regulation. Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill) (Kents/Wellesley, MA) scored her tenth goal of the season at 22:40 to start the rally for UC.

The Pioneers streaky scoring tactics proved not to faze Hartwick on this day as the Hawks outscored UC three goals to one, including the games final two goals to seal the victory.

UC out shot the Hawks 30-26 and won the ground ball battle 24-19. The goalie play may have been the determining factor in the contest. Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) (Deerfield Academy/Augusta, ME) made fives saves on the evening for the Pioneers, while Emily Follit (East Longmeadow, MA) and DiBrita combined for ten saves in 60:00 of work.

UC returns to action Saturday against host Nazareth College at 12:00 p.m.
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