ALFRED, NY (April 11, 2009) – The Utica College women's lacrosse team defeated host Alfred University 13-4 in Empire 8 Conference play Saturday. With the win the Pioneers are now 3-2 in the Empire 8 and they are currently tied for fourth in the conference standings. Freshman Katlyn Banker netted one goal and added two assists to pace the Pioneer's.
Utica is now 6-4 overall on the year, marking the seventh time in program-history they have won six or more games in a single season. The Pioneers also raised their record against Alfred to 4-4 in eight meetings all-time. Alfred dropped to 4-4 on the year and 1-4 in conference play after Saturday's loss.
UC scored the game's first nine goals over the course of the opening 27:46 of play to earn a 9-0 lead they would not relinquish. Sophomore standout Tammy Kohanski netted all three of her goals in the first half, while Laura Keating added one goal and also assisted on the first two goals of the contest. Sophomore Julianne Schultheiss scored twice in the first 25:23 of play, while Banker also added one goal and two assists in the first half.
Alfred's Michelle Adams scored the Saxons lone goal of the opening 30 minutes with just eight seconds left before halftime. Adams was assisted by Emily Tobin to cut the UC lead to eight goals prior to the halftime buzzer.
The Pioneers momentum continued into the second half as they scored two goals and earned a commanding ten goal lead, 11-1, 4:55 into the second half of play. Alfred outscored UC 3-2 in the final 17:19 of play but it was not nearly enough as Utica cruised to a nine goal victory.
Freshman Maria Santucci scored a career-high two goals on the day, while senior Jackie Vicencio added two goals of her own. Vicencio also tallied a team-high six ground balls. Freshman Kim Rigney got in on the scoring by netting her seventh and eighth goals of the season.
Freshman goalie Shelby Barbay had another stellar afternoon in net, stopping ten shots en route to her sixth win of the season. Barbay's counterpart, Kate Baughman, stopped 16 shots in the loss.
UC out shot Alfred 30-21 on the day, while the Saxons earned a 33-27 ground ball advantage. The Pioneers were able to convert on 3-of-9 free position shots and they also won 12-of-19 draw controls.
The Pioneers remain on the road for the second game of a six-game road trip to close out the regular season when they travel to Hartwick College Wednesday to take on the Hawks in Empire 8 Conference play. UC is 1-7 all-time against Hartwick headed into Wednesday's match up. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on the turf at Wright Stadium.
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