UTICA, NY- Six different players scored as the Utica College women's lacrosse team downed visiting SUNY Potsdam 12-9 in the 2017 season opener Sunday afternoon.  This marks the first time in four years that UC has picked up a win to open the season. 
 
Utica jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes behind a pair of goals from junior Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and a tally by senior Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park).  Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), Sara Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), and freshman Rachel Gelina (Westfield, MA/Westfield) each assisted on Utica's first three scores.
 
Cayla O'Connor got Potsdam on the board with 9:36 remaining, before freshman Hailee DuMont (Wilkes-Barre, PA/James M. Coughlin) buried a feed from Scarpinella for her first collegiate goal. O'Connor found the back of the net again with 2:54 left on the clock, but Hennessey scored in the final minute of play to send the Pioneers into halftime with a 5-2 lead. 
 
The Bears scored two goals in the first 2:27 of the second half, both off the stick of Murphy Newman to bring the game within one.  Utica regrouped to score two goals in 29 seconds from Plunkett and senior Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) to regain the three-goal cushion with 22:17 left to play.
 
Utica went on to score five of the next seven tallies to take a commanding 12-6 lead with just 10:56 remaining.   Scarpinella and Dowling each had two goals, while Plunkett netted her third of the day.  Potsdam rallied to score three in the final nine minutes, but it was not enough as the Pioneers held on for the win. 
 
Plunkett finished with a game-high six draw controls, while Dowling had five.  Plunkett also tied for the team lead with two caused turnovers and five ground balls.
 
Freshman Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central) was impressive in her first career start as she made 11 saves, and held Potsdam to 1-for-5 on free position opportunities.  Devan Olschewske and Katie Longamore combined for 13 saves in the loss.
 
The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they travel to Skidmore College.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.