#9 Stevens 11, Utica 6 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (4/1/2011) - The Utica College women's lacrosse team lost to nationally-ranked No. 9 Stevens Institute of Technology 11-6 in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads Friday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Junior goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) stopped a career-high 21 shots and essentially kept the Pioneers in the contest until the final horn, despite being outshot 38-12 on the afternoon.

The Pioneers (3-2, 0-1 E8) snapped a three game winning streak, while the Ducks (6-2, 1-0 E8) got back on track after falling to No. 13 Middlebury, 17-7, on Tuesday afternoon.

Seniors Tammy Kohanski (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) and Julianne Schultheiss (Commack, NY/Commack) combined for all six of the Pioneers' tallies after netting three goals apiece. Kohanski finished the day with five total points (her season average) after assisting on two of Schultheiss' goals. Junior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) also added one assist for the Pioneers.

The visitors had four players score at least two goals including Pamela Loria (three), Christine Smith (three), Michelle Buonacuore (two) and Jenna Scheibling (two).

Stevens shot out of the gates hot and earned a 6-0 lead over the course of the first 21:02 of play before Kohanski was able to get the Pioneers on the board for the first time at the 3:41 ledger of the first half. However the Ducks would not slow down and scored another goal, to take a 7-1 lead, from the stick of Christine Smith with 1:33 to go before the half.

Kohanski scored on a free position shot six seconds before halftime to send the Pioneers into intermission down by five.

Both teams scored four second half goals to give the Ducks a five goal advantage as the final horn sounded.

Stevens won the ground ball war 17-8 and the Ducks were also able to cause 19 turnovers. Meg Collins made three saves in net for Stevens.

Freshman Kaela King caused two turnovers and picked up two ground balls for Utica, while Barbay added a team-high three ground balls. Kate Cox and Joey Galligan each scooped up four ground balls for the Ducks.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday for game two of a three game home stand when they take on Hartwick College at 1 p.m.

                                                                       --- www.ucpioneers.com ---