UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's lacrosse team defeated host RIT 9-7 on Sunday in Empire 8 action. The win puts the Pioneers in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Empire 8 conference standings with Hartwick and RIT.

The Pioneers trailed 2-0 early in the first half, but then scored three straight goals in just over eight minutes when Kerri Weber (Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford) scored once and Kathy Waite (Levittown, NY/Division Avenue) scored twice. RIT would tally a goal with 5:42 remaining in the half to even the score up at 3-3.

The Pioneers went on another run to end the first half when they scored three goals in the final 3:40 of the opening half. Weber, Casey Pelletier (Middletown, CT/Mercy) and Kelly Regan (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) scored to round out the first half. Regan's goal came with one second remaining.

The second half was back and forth between RIT and the Pioneers. Although RIT tallied four goals in the second half, Pelletier's second and Weber's third and fourth goals of the game were enough to hold off RIT.

Jessica LeClerc (Augusta, ME/Deerfield Academy) had 13 saves on the day for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers return to action Wednesday, April 18th at 4:00 p.m. when they travel to Clarkson in non-conference action.