PITTSFORD, NY (April 26, 2009) - The Utica College women's lacrosse team (8-6, 4-4 Empire 8) capped its 2009 campaign with a 10-9 overtime loss against Empire 8 Conference rival Nazareth College (9-7, 5-3 Empire 8) in Pittsford, NY Sunday. After falling behind 5-1 in the first 30 minutes of play, UC outscored Naz 7-1 over the course of the first 22:15 of the second half to take an 8-6 lead with 7:45 to go in the contest. The Golden Flyers forced overtime after netting two free position shots in the final six minutes of play. Nazareth outscored UC 2-1 in overtime to earn the fourth and final spot in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.
The Pioneers headed into the final weekend of the regular season needing one victory over St. John Fisher or Nazareth to earn a spot in the conference tournament. UC dropped a 17-13 decision at Fisher Saturday, before falling 10-9 Sunday at Nazareth and finished in a tie for fifth place in the conference regular season standings, missing out on the tournament by just one game, for the second straight season.
Nazareth used the entire first half of play to open up a 5-1 lead on the Pioneers. Sophomore sensation Tammy Kohanski scored the Pioneers lone goal of the first half, while Michelle Cook and Nora Davis each netted two goals apiece to spark the Golden Flyers four goal lead as the first half buzzer sounded.
UC dominated the first 22 minutes of the second half, outscoring Naz 7-1, behind two goals each from Julianne Schultheiss and Kohanski. Lily Fleskes, Kim Rigney and senior Kelly Regan also netted goals to give the Pioneers an 8-6 lead with 7:45 to go in regulation.
Alyssia Roberts and Michelle Cook each tallied a free position goal in the final six minutes of regulation to send the contest into overtime.
Kara Kulba and Shannon Lattimore each scored at 5:04 and 1:38 of the overtime period to give the Golden Flyers a 10-8 lead with just under two minutes to go in the contest. Kelly Regan added her second goal of the contest to bring the Pioneers within one goal, 10-9, with 1:28 to go in overtime but it proved to be too late as the Golden Flyers hung on for the one goal victory.
Kohanski led the way for UC with three goals, while Lily Fleskes totaled three points on two assists and one goal. Freshman goalie Shelby Barbay stopped 13 shots in 66 minutes of action between the pipes for the Pioneers. Kelly Regan also picked up a team-high four ground balls to go along with two goals for UC.
Nazareth outshot UC 36-25 on the day but the Pioneers earned a 15-8 draw control advantage on the day. Maria Fusco stopped nine shots in net for Nazareth.
