ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as it cruised to a 19-4 win over host Elmira College in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.  Sophomore Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) led the Pioneers with four goals and one assist on the day.
 
With the win, Utica improves to 6-3 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.  The Pioneers will look to carry their momentum into a big conference match up against perennial power, St. John Fisher College on Tuesday.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
 
UC got things going early as sophomore Hailee DuMont (Wilkes-Barre, PA/James M. Coughlin) put in her first of the day just 59 seconds into the first half.  Utica added goals by Palmer and Lauren Wolff (Peabody, MA/Peabody) over the next three minutes before Elmira was finally able to get on the board. 
 
The Pioneers began to pull away as they scored seven of the next eight goals and went on to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.  Utica kept up the pressure in the second half outscoring the Soaring Eagles 5-1 over the final 30 minutes to pick up their sixth win of the year.
 
Palmer led all players with four goals, while freshman Stephanie Husnay (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had two goals and a game-high three assists.  Husnay now has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in her last four games.  Junior Natalie Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford) extended her scoring streak to five games as she netted three goals, while DuMont, Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), Katie McDowell (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park), and Brianna Colley (Staten Island, NY/Petrides) each had two goals. Kristi Pearage (Bear Creek Township, PA/James M. Coughlin) also registered her fourth goal of the year in the win.
 
Palmer and sophomore Kaleigh Dwyer (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) led Utica defensively with two caused turnovers each, with Palmer also scooping up a team-high five ground balls. 
 
Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central), Abigail Rogan (Clinton, NY/Clinton), and Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) combined for six saves in the win.