Box Score Nazareth 10, Utica 7 - Box Score

Utica, NY – The Utica College women's lacrosse team tied the game at 3-3 midway through the first half of play, but visiting Nazareth College rattled off four straight goals in a span of 8:07, and the Golden Flyers never looked back as they earned a 10-7 Empire 8 Conference victory over the Pioneers Saturday afternoon.  Senior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) led the way for UC with three goals and one assist, while freshman Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) netted two goals and also tallied one assist.  Senior goalie Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) stopped 15 shots between the pipes for the Pioneers. 

UC's record moved to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play, while Nazareth improved to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the E8.  The Golden Flyers were led by Megan Cregan's four goal effort and Erinn Wood also chipped in with four points on three goals and one assist. 

Nazareth earned a 27-17 shot advantage and the Golden Flyers also scooped up 23 ground balls compared to the Pioneers' 17. 

Both teams exchanged goals in the first 4:15 of action to knot the score at 1-1.  Alyssa Johnston scored off a free position for the visitors, while Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) tallied a free position goal of her own for the Pioneers.  Naz answered with two straight goals in a span of less than ten minutes to take a 3-1 lead with 16:22 remaining in the first half of play. 

However, senior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) would not let the game get away from them, as they each added a goal in a span of just over one minute to tie the contest at 3-3 midway through the first half.  That's when Naz turned up the heat and tallied four straight goals to take a 7-3 advantage.  Two of the goals came in the final 2:56 of the first half and the next two came in the first 5:11 of the second half. 

Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) helped the Pioneers' respond once again when she scored in the 20th minute to lower UC's deficit to 7-4.  Naz went on to score three of the game's next four goals, two from the stick of Cregan, and the Golden Flyers led 10-5 with 10:03 left in regulation. 

Samantha Gebler (Vestal, NY/Vestal) and Banker helped provide a small spark late in the game for UC, as they each netted a goal, but it proved to be too late as the Pioneers lost by three, 10-7. 

Kristen Beckman (Lake Placid, NY/Northwood) tallied a game-high four ground balls for Utica, while Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) added three caused turnovers, two ground balls, and one assist.  Barbay also posted three ground balls and two caused turnovers for the home team. 

MacKenzie Haley and Cregan each posted six ground balls for the Golden Flyers and Johnston won a team-best three draw controls. 

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday when they host nationally-ranked No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology for their third straight conference contest.  The first draw control is set for 11 a.m. on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 

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