UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team got back on track Saturday as it topped host Houghton College 15-4 in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.  The Pioneers outscored the Highlanders 11-2 in the second half to pick up their second E8 victory of the season.
 
Utica improves to 7-5 on the season and 2-2 in league play.  The Pioneers will look to keep their momentum rolling Sunday as they face Alfred University for an Empire 8 contest.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Utica led just 4-2 at the half behind goals from Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park), Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport).  The second half was all UC, however as the Pioneers scored eight straight goals to take a commanding 14-3 lead.  Senior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) matched her career-high of six points as she finished with four goals and two assists to lead UC. 
 
Plunkett finished with three goals and one assist, while Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) had three points (two goals, one assist) and Scarpinella and Miller each totaled one goal and one assist.  Junior Tewasherake Barnes (Akwesasne, NY/Salmon River) and freshmen Noelle Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford Greenwave) and Jessica Steinhilber (Plainview, NY/Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK) each had one goal. 
 
Seniors Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) and Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) combined for five saves in the win, while their counterparts Kourtnie Franklin and Alison Clark totaled 11 saves for the home team.  Casey is now tied with Dani Andrew '06 for second on the College's career wins list.