Box Score Utica 10, Hartwick 6 - Box Score

Utica, NY – The Utica College women's lacrosse team netted five goals in each half on its way to a 10-6 victory over visiting Hartwick College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday afternoon.  Freshman Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led all scorers with three goals, while her twin sister Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) chipped in with a pair of goals and two assists to help UC improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. 

Emily Jweid netted a team-high two goals as the Hawks (4-4, 0-1 Empire 8) dropped their
Utica came out of the gates firing, as it jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first 18:21 of action.  Four different Pioneers scored the first four goals of the game including, senior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta), Kane, senior Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) and freshman Samantha Gebler (Vestal, NY/Vestal).  Banker assisted on the Pioneers' second and third goals, while freshman Morgan Dupont recorded a helper on Utica's fourth goal of the contest. 

Hartwick answered with two goals in a span of two minutes to cut the UC lead in half, 4-2, with 7:48 left before the first intermission.  Ali Sisco and Jweid both got on the board for the visitors.  The two teams exchanged blows before the half, and the score was set at 5-3 after 30 full minutes of action. 

Utica came out hot once again in the second half as they tacked on three goals in the first 15:09 of action.  The Kane sisters and Janet Campo (Centerport, NY/Harborfields) each netted a goal to put UC on top by five, 8-3.  However, the Hawks would not go down without a fight as they netted three of the game's next four goals to cut UC's lead to 9-6 with 6:50 left in regulation.
 
Solid defense from senior goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) helped the Pioneers shut the door in the final six minutes, and Santucci added her second goal of the day with 17 ticks left on the clock as the Pioneers secured the four goal victory.  Barbay finished the day with nine saves, seven ground balls and three caused turnovers.  Her counterpart, Steph Luce, stopped eight shots and scooped up six ground balls in net for the visitors.
 
UC converted on 3-of-9 free position shots, while Hartwick won 11 of 19 draw controls. 

Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) also added seven ground balls and five caused turnovers, while sophomore defender Keala King (St. Albans, VT/Bellows Free Academy) chipped in with five caused turnovers of her own for Utica. 

Hartwick's Erica Scicchitano picked up a game-high nine ground balls, won five draw controls and also added five caused turnovers. 

The Pioneers, winners of four of their last five contests, closed out their three game home stand with a 2-1 record and they will return to non-conference action on Tuesday night when they travel to Medaille College.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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