The Utica College women's lacrosse team used three straight goals in a span of 10:56 late in the second half to battle from behind and knock off previously undefeated Clarkson University, 8-7, in non conference play at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday. Junior attacker Tammy Kohanski (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) led the way for the Pioneers with five goals, while sophomore Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) added two, including the eventual game-winner with 2:57 to go in the contest.

Utica has now won two straight games and improved to 2-2 on the year headed into conference play next weekend. Clarkson had won its first four games headed into this afternoons contest and dropped to 4-1 overall.

The contest featured five ties and Clarkson held the lead or a tie of the lead for the first 55:40 of the contest.

The first half was a back and forth battle with both team exchanging goals in the first 17:24. Alyssa Dausman opened the scoring for the Golden Knights just 33 seconds into the contest before UC's Kohanski answered with a goal of her own to knot the score at 1-1 in the 26th minute.

Clarkson took a 2-1 lead at 22:24 when Alyssa Cristaldi netted her team-best 22nd goal of the season. Once again the Pioneers answered right back when Kohanski scored her second goal of the day off an assist from classmate Lily Fleskes (Dover, MA/Dover Sherborn).

Clarkson then scored two in a row to take a 4-2 lead before Kohanski earned a free position shot and converted with just 20 seconds to go in the first half of play.

Both goalies played extremely well in the first half with Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) leading the way for UC with eight saves.

Kohanski helped the Pioneers tie the game up in the first five minutes of the second half when she netted her 11th goal of the season, unassisted, at 25:15. Just 14 seconds later the Golden Knights took the lead right back when Robyn Baumgartner beat UC goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) to give Clarkson a 5-4 lead.

Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) would score off a free position shot in the 19th minute to tie the score back up at 5-5. Clarkson took its final lead of the day, 6-5, in the 15th minute when Katie VanDeWalk scored her 13th goal of the season.

The Pioneers then rattled off three straight goals in a span of 10:56 to take an 8-6 lead with 2:57 to go in the contest. Kohanski, Schultheiss and Banker all scored goals to key the Pioneers come from behind victory.

Barbay made ten stops in net for the Pioneers including a few key saves down the stretch, while her counterpart Hannah Walter also had a stellar day in net stopping 12 shots. Utica College converted on 15-of-17 clear opportunities and held the Golden Knights to 0-for-8 on free position attempts.

The Pioneers return to action Friday when they travel to Hartwick College to take on the Hawks in the Empire 8 Conference opener at 4 p.m.

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