Utica, NY (3/4/15)- The Utica College women's lacrosse team used eight second half goals to down visiting Clarkson University 12-10 in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.
Senior
Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led the way for UC with six points (five goals, one assist), and she also collected a game-high nine ground balls and six draw controls. Sophomore
Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) chipped in with three goals and six draw controls of her own. Clarkson was led by Paige Fayette, who had two goals and three assists to go along with her team-best seven shots.
Utica faced a 6-4 deficit headed into the second half, however Plunkett won the opening draw and ran down the field untested to cut the Clarkson lead to one, just 15 seconds into the second frame. Just over one minute later,
Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) evened the score as she notched an unassisted goal. The teams traded tallies over the next 20 minutes before Utica was able to make a later charge.
Plunkett's third goal of the afternoon with 5:16 remaining gave Utica its first lead since early in the first half. Junior
Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) extended the Pioneer lead at 1:47 as she netted her second of the day, and senior
Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) scored on a free position just 28 seconds later to all but seal the victory.
Xiomara Rodriguez (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood) also scored for Utica and junior
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made seven saves in her first collegiate start to earn the win.
Clarkson's Danielle Tani had 11 saves in the loss. Utica caused 15 turnovers and scooped up a game-high 27 ground balls, while scoring on 5-of-11 free positions.
The Pioneers improve to 1-1 on the young season. Utica will have a week off before it travels to Skidmore College next Wednesday to take on the Thoroughbreds. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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