UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team was eliminated form playoff contention as it fell to host Nazareth College, 15-5, in Empire 8 women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 9-7 overall record and a 4-4 mark in league play.  UC fell just one win shy of tying the program record for wins in a season, and it marked the second straight year Utica finished 4-4 in the E8.
 
The Pioneers kept it close within the first 23 minutes of play as the home team held just a 3-2 lead with 7:55 left in the first half, however the Golden Flyers scored the game's next five goals, to take a commanding 8-2 lead.  Utica scored three straight goals in 4:24 of action after halftime to bring the game to 9-5, before Naz once again pulled away.
 
Senior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) led Utica with three goals, while junior Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) and freshman Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) each had one.  Junior Tewasherake Barnes (Akwesasne, NY/Salmon River) chipped in with one assist on the day.  Wheeler finishes her career ranked sixth on the College's all-time list with 103 career goals, and she is also seventh all-time with 145 career points.
 
Seniors Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) and Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) combined for six saves in the loss, while Naz's Brianna Rizzari had 14 saves in the win.
 
Utica bids farewell to eight seniors, including Wheeler, Casey, Jacobson, Tori Couture (Auburn, ME/Edward Little ), Briana Estabrook (Tully, NY/Tully ), Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Lisa Howden (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran), and Mary Morgan Marafino (Monroe, NY/Central Square).