The Utica College women's lacrosse team defeated visiting Cazenovia 22-4 in non-conference play on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Wednesday. Junior attack Julianne Schultheiss (Commack, NY/Commack) tied a career-high with nine points on five goals and four assists to help the Pioneers win their first contest of the season. Classmate Lily Fleskes (Dover, MA/Dover Sherborn) added a career-best seven points on four goals and three assists, while Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) also set a career mark with six points (three goals, three assists).

The Pioneers improved to 1-2 on the year and they are now 6-0 all-time against Cazenovia. The Wildcats dropped to 1-4 overall. UC outshot Caz 32-8 on the day and won 19-of-28 draw controls.

Utica jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 8:47 of the contest behind one goal from Schultheiss and two straight goals from Fleskes. Cassandra Gazeley opened the scoring for Cazenovia when she netted her fifth goal of the season at 20:14 to cut the Utica lead to 3-1.

The Pioneers answered with six straight goals in the next 8:01 of play to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) netted her first goal of the day before Schultheiss rattled off three straight. Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) added her first goal of the season before Fleskes closed out the six goal barrage.

Caz's Kristin Small mixed in a goal at the 12:15 mark to cut the UC lead to seven before the Pioneers netted five straight goals to close out the half. Kelley Fullerton (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Brittney Herbert (Ballston Lake, NY/BH-BL) each tallied their first goals of the season, while Banker, Schultheiss and junior Tammy Kohanski (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) each added a goal to close out the half.

Utica scored six of the first seven goals in the second half to take a commanding 20-3 lead. Santucci netted two more goals to give her a career-best three on the day, while Kohanski added two more and Fleskes and Fullerton each tallied one goal.

Gazeley would close out the scoring for Caz before Banker and Kohanski each added an insurance goal for Utica in the final five minutes to secure the Pioneers' 18 goal victory.

Sophomore goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) stopped one shot in the victory, while freshman Stephanie Belanger (Lewiston, ME/Lewiston) made one save in her first collegiate appearance. Liz Cook stopped four shots in net for the Wildcats.

UC returns to action at home on Saturday against Clarkson University. The contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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