#11 Union 10, Utica 4 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (3/5/2011) – The nationally-ranked No. 11 Union College women's lacrosse team scored seven of the game's final eight goals on its way to a 10-4 season-opening victory over host Utica College on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday afternoon. Senior Melissa Hine led the way for the Dutchwomen with a game-high six points (three goals, three assists), while Utica's all-time leading scorer Tammy Kohanski (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) scored a team-high three points (two goals, one assist) for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers (0-1) were able to keep the visitors at bay for the first 30 minutes of play, holding Union (1-0) to a 3-1 advantage as the first half horn sounded. Hine and Abby Stohler gave the Dutchwomen an early 2-0 advantage when they netted their first goals of the year in the first 2:51 of play. Utica responded at 24:03 to cut the Union lead in half when junior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) scored off an assist from Kohanski to make the game 2-1.

Hine would add her second goal of the afternoon at 8:52 to give the Dutchwomen a 3-1 lead at the half.

Utica made the game interesting by scoring the first two goals of the second half to knot the score at 3-3 with 25:23 left in regulation. Banker and Kohanski each scored, consecutively, to put the Pioneers right back in the contest. That's when Union rattled off four straight goals, including three straight from the stick of senior Kristin Joyce, in a span of 10:12 to jump out to a 7-3 lead. Kohanski was able to score the Pioneers' final goal with 5:39 to go but it proved to be to late. The Dutchwomen scored the game's final three goals to seal the victory.

Joyce finished the day with three goals and two caused turnovers, while Hine added a team-high four ground balls and three draw controls. Sophomore Heather Fraser tallied two goals of her own and caused a team-high four turnovers for the visitors. Abby Stohler and Chelsea Charette each netted one goal for Union.

Junior goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo), who is the reigning Empire 8 Conference Goalie of the Year, stopped eight shots, scooped up four ground balls and caused three turnovers in net for the Pioneers. Kohanski added three caused turnovers, while Kelley Fullerton (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Meghan Olesen (Franklin, MA/Franklin) and Kasey Lederle (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) each registered two caused turnovers.

Alexis Deeb stopped two shots in net and added two ground balls for the Dutchwomen. Union outshot Utica 23-12 on the day and the Dutchwomen caused a total of 29 Pioneer turnovers.

Utica will hit the road Wednesday when it travels to Oneonta for a non conference contest at 4 p.m. Union, which is now 2-0 all-time against Utica, remains on the road next Saturday when they travel to St. John Fisher to take on the Cardinals at 2 p.m.

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