MORRISVILLE, NY – The Utica College women's lacrosse team fell into an early 4-1 hole, but battled back and netted three goals in a span of 3:22 late in the second half to earn a 10-8 victory over host Morrisville State on Wednesday afternoon.  Junior Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) tied her season high with five goals (three in first half, two in second half) to help lift the Pioneers to the two goal victory.

UC has won two of its last three games and improved to 4-3 overall headed into Saturday's Empire 8 Conference opener back at the friendly confines of Charles A. Gaetano Stadium (1 p.m.). Morrisville has now lost four in a row as its record moved to 1-4 overall on the year.

UC senior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) netted two goals, while Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport), and Mary Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each added one goal apiece. Sophomore Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) each added one helper.

Morrisville jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 13:20 of action before Plunkett got the Pioneers on the board at the 14:22 mark to make it a 3-1 ball game. Morrisville then went up 4-1 at 9:02 before the Pioneers rattled of four of the final five goals in the first half to knot the score at 5-5 at the intermission. Plunkett netted two goals in the run, including her final tally of the first half with 1:24 left on the clock. Wheeler and Stuhlman also aided in the Pioneer surge with a goal each before the half.

Plunkett and Dowling got the Pioneers off on the right foot in the second half as they each netted a goal to give the visitors  a 7-5 lead with 19:23 left in regulation. Morrisville then scored two straight to tie the score at 7-7.  Plunkett was there when the Pioneers needed her as she put Utica back on top, 8-7, with her fifth goal of the game with 8:34 left.  UC then added two more goals in the next 3:22 to take a lead that it would not relinquish.  Wheeler put the Pioneers up 9-7 with 7:07 to go before Scarpinella got on the board with 5:12 left to account for the Pioneers final score of the game. 

Wheeler led the UC with six ground balls, while Sara Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) also chipped in with four ground balls.  Plunkett tallied a team-best three draw controls, while Lisa Howden (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran), Mary Morgan Marafino (Monroe, NY/Central Square) and Maggie Notter (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) each caused two turnovers for Utica.  The Pioneers caused 29 Mustang turnovers on the afternoon.

Sophomore goalie Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) came on in relief of Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) and stopped two shots in 44:22 of work to earn her first collegiate victory.  

The Pioneers converted on 12-of-16 clear attempts, while each team won 10 draw controls.