UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's lacrosse team opened up its 2016 campaign with a 17-11 loss at the hands of visiting Buffalo State in the first game of the American Heart Association Tournament at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Pioneers trailed by as few as three goals with 14:04 remaining in regulation, but the visitors answered with five straight goals in a span of 8:23 late in the contest to seal the victory.

Utica's Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) led the Pioneers with a team-high four goals, while freshman Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) made her collegiate debut and netted three goals to go along with one assist.  Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) added two late goals for the Pioneers while freshman Mary Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) also added one goal and one assist.  Plunkett also chipped in with a team-high seven draw controls and five ground balls.

Buffalo State (1-1) rebounded from a season opening loss to Union College and was led by nine points (four goals, five assists) from Kyra Herne.  Christina Krowel added five goals and two assists while Sarah Lorusso totaled four goals and one assist for the Bengals. Elyse Stark stopped 14 shots in net for the visitors as she earned her first win of the season.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first 4:35 of action behind goals from Plunkett and senior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy).  Sophomore Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) assisted on the Pioneers first goal of the game.  Wheeler finished the day with one goal and one assist. Miller tallied two assists and two ground balls for the Pioneers.

Buffalo State then rattled off six straight goals in a span of 7:57 to take a commanding 7-2 lead with 16:50 to go in the first half. Utica kept it close by tallying four of the final six first half goals, including three straight in the final 4:11 of the half, to make it a 9-6 game as the halftime horn sounded.  Scarpinella netted two goals in the spurt, while classmate Mary Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) added her first collegiate goal with 3:36 to go in the first half.

Both teams netted two goals in the first 15:56 of the second half, and the score stood at 11-8 with 14:04 remaining in regulation. That's when Buffalo State went off with five consecutive goals to take a 16-8 lead with 5:26 to go in the contest.

Utica's Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) registered both her goals in the final 4:20 of the contest but it was not enough as the Poneers' record dropped to 0-1 on the year.

UC outshot Buffalo 34-27 on the afternoon and also caused 18 Bengal turnovers. Maggie Notter (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) led Utica with three caused turnovers, while Natalie Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford Greenwave) came off the bench and picked up three draw controls in her first collegiate game in the blue and orange.

Buffalo State returns to play at Gaetano Stadium on Saturday when they take on Albright College at 4 p.m. UC returns to the turf on Sunday when they host Albright in the final game of the American Heart Association Tournament at 1 p.m.