Box Score Utica, NY (March 11, 2014) – The Utica College women's lacrosse team extended its winning streak to three games as the Pioneers hung on for a 13-11 victory over visiting Clarkson University Tuesday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  The Pioneers led 11-4 at the half until the Golden Knight stormed back with the first six goals of the second half to make it a one goal contest, 11-10, with 12:14 remaining.  The Pioneers were able to fend off the Golden Knight comeback and netted two of the game's final three goals to earn the 13-11 victory. 

Utica improved to 3-1 overall on the year and snapped a two game slide against Clarkson.  The Pioneers are now 7-7 all-time against Clarkson, with seven of those games being decided by two goals or less.  Last season Clarkson downed the Pioneers 12-11 in triple overtime.

The Pioneers have a flare for the dramatics so far this season with all three of their victories coming by two goals or less, including a last minute victory over Potsdam last week.

Utica junior Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led the way with a game-high five goals to go along with one assist, while her twin sister Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) added a season-best three goals. Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) also broke out with two goals and one assist, while Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) registered three first half assists for the Pioneers. Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) and freshman Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) each picked up a team-best six ground balls. 

Clarkson sophomore Christine Wright and freshman Paige Fayette each tallied four goals and added two assists for the Golden Knights.  Sophomore goalie Danielle Tani came on in the second half and allowed just two goals, while stopping eight shots in net for the visitors. 

Clarkson won 15 of the 24 draw controls on the afternoon, while the Pioneers out shot Clarkson 34-28. 

The Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 5:37 of the contest behind two goals from Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and one from the stick of Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville).  Clarkson answered back with a goal of its own, but the Pioneers got right back to work with goals from P. Kane and Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) to give the home team a 6-2 lead with 11:07 left in the first half of play.

UC outscored Clarkson 5-2 in the final 7:09 of the first half to take a commanding 11-4 lead as the halftime horn sounded.  Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) scored the final three goals of the first half for Utica, including her fifth goal of the game with just seven seconds left in the first half. 

Clarkson dominated the first 18 minutes of the second half, rattling off six straight goals to cut UC's seven goal lead to just one, 11-10, with 12:14 remaining in regulation.

The Pioneers were able to right the ship and took a 12-10 lead with 6:44 remaining when sophomore Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) scored her second of the season to give Utica a small cushion. 

Clarkson's Paige Fayette scored a free position goal with 32 seconds left in the contest to make it a one goal game once again.  The Golden Knight's also won the ensuing draw control, but the Pioneers forced a turnover to secure possession with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.  Briana Estanbrook was fouled with two seconds left as Clarkson goalie Danielle Tani was out of the net trying to force a Pioneer turnover.  This left Estabrook with an open look on net from about 20 yards out and she delivered her first goal of the season to lock up the victory for the Pioneers. 

Freshman Jackie Gould (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville) also registered her first collegiate goal in the contest, while reigning Empire 8 goalie of the Week Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) stopped seven shots in her third victory of the young season. 

Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) now leads UC with 13 points this season (11 goals, three assists). M. Kane now needs two more goals to tie Lily Fleskes '11 for tenth on the College's career goals scored list.  She now has 67 goals over the course of three seasons. Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) has a team-best seven assists this year and she needs just one more to tie Heather Kilduff '03 for sixth place on the College's all-time assists list.  DuPont has 37 career assists under her belt.

Utica will hit the road next week as the Pioneers head to New Hampshire over Spring Break to take on Colby-Sawyer and New England College on consecutive days (March 20^th and March 21^st).