Box Score Utica 20, Medaille 7 - Box Score

Buffalo, NY – The Utica College women's lacrosse team cruised to its third straight victory on Tuesday afternoon as the Pioneers topped host  Medaille 20-7 in non-conference action.  Senior classmates Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) and Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta), as well as freshman Samantha Gebler (Vestal, NY/Vestal), each netted four goals apiece, while freshman Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) chipped in with three goals and one assist. The Mavericks were able to keep the contest close in the first 30 minutes of action, but the Pioneers turned up the heat in the second half, outscoring the home team 11-2, on their way to a convincing 13 goal victory.

UC, winners of five of its last six contests, improved to 5-2 overall headed into three straight Empire 8 Conference games at home, beginning with a visit from the Cardinals of St. John Fisher College on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Medaille put a scare in the Pioneers early as it netted the first two goals of the contest to take a 2-0 lead over the course of the first 12:10 of action.  Utica eventually shook off the long bus ride and netted six consecutive goals in a span of 7:40 to take a 6-2 lead with 9:04 left in the first half of play.  The Mavericks answered right back with three straight goals to cut their defecit to 6-5 with 6:51 left in the first half, before the Pioneers turned it up and never looked back. 

Santucci, Kane and Gebler each netted a goal with under a minute to go in the first half to give the visitors a 9-5 lead at the intermission.

The Pioneers opened up the second half with seven straight goals in the first ten minutes to put the game out of reach.  Medialle's Emily Brophy netted two goals midway through the second half, but UC closed the door when Banker netted two goals and Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and Meghan Olesen (Franklin, MA/Franklin) each added a late go to lift the Pioneers. 

Senior goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) stopped nine shots in her fifth win of the year, while Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional) and Julia Primps (Ossining, NY/Ossining) each added a goal for UC. 

Banker won a game-high seven draw controls and Gebler picked up a team-best four ground balls for the Pioneers.  Utica outshot the home team 41-20 on the afternoon and the Pioneers also won the draw control battle 17-6. 

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