Hoboken, NJ (3/27/15)- The Utica College women's lacrosse team dropped its Empire 8 Conference opener to host Stevens Institute of Technology, 17-8 Friday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex on the Stevens campus.
 
The Pioneers drop to 4-3 on the season (0-1 Empire 8). They look to rebound Saturday as they travel to Hartwick College for an E8 match up against the Hawks.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Junior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the way for Utica, netting three goals and collecting a team-high six draw controls.  She has now tallied three goals in each of her last three games.  Senior Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) scored two goals of her own, while Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), and Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) each found the back of the net once.  Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) also added an assist, while Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) scooped up a team-best three ground balls and two caused turnovers. 
 
Stevens jumped out to a quick start, scoring two goals just 36 seconds apart to give the home team a two-goal cushion.  The Pioneers responded with tallies from Wheeler and Miller to even the score, just 8:30 into the contest.  The Ducks began to pull away as they netted five of the next six goals in the game, before DuPont converted on a free position with 54 seconds remaining in the half send the Pioneers into the break facing an 8-5 deficit. 
 
The Ducks controlled the majority of played in the second stanza, as they outscored the Pioneers 9-3 in the final 30 minutes to cruise to their fifth straight victory.  Junior Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made six saves in just over 45 minutes of work, while classmate Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) made three saves in relief.  Stevens net minders Stephanie Schnelzer and Catie Shelton combined for seven saves in the win.