UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team did not allow a goal in the second half as it cruised to a 22-3 victory over Alfred University in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers, who have now won five straight, improve to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference.  They look to carry their momentum into a contest against E8 frontrunner, Ithaca College on Wednesday.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Utica jumped out to a 4-0 lead just 3:47 into play and scored the game's final 11 tallies to remain unbeaten in conference play.  Junior Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the way with six goals, just one off her career-high.  Graduate student Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) had three goals and one assist, while senior Sara Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) also had three goals, marking her highest output as a Pioneer. 
 
Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) and Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) each had two goals, while Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), Mary Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), and Rachel Gelina (Westfield, MA/Westfield) had one goal and one assist apiece.  Tewasherake Barnes (Akwesasne, NY/Salmon River) and Hailee DuMont (Wilkes-Barre, PA/James M. Coughlin) each found the back of the net once, and freshman Chelsea Bauld (Rochester, NY/Odyssey) netted her first collegiate goal. 
 
Plunkett tallied a career-high 10 draw controls, to become just the second player in program history to record over 200 draw controls in a career.  Scarpinella meanwhile had a team-high three caused turnovers, and she also added four draw controls of her own.
 
Utica goalies Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central), Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles), and Emily Holtshouser (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) combined for three saves in the win, with Holtshouser not allowing a goal in 30 minutes of work.  Alfred's Shannon Gray made 21 saves in the loss. 
 
Prior to the game, the Pioneers honored their five seniors: Sara Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), Amanda Chruscicki (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), Tewasherake Barnes (Akwesasne, NY/Salmon River), Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park), and Maggie Notter (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes).  The class of 2017 has now totaled 34 wins over the last four years at UC.