UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team suffered its first Empire 8 Conference defeat of the season Tuesday as it fell to nationally ranked No. 24 St. John Fisher College, 14-5. Junior Natalie Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford) led the Pioneers with three goals on the day.
 
Utica (6-4, 2-1 Empire 8) will face another tough test Saturday as it travels to No. 20 Stevens Institute of Technology.  Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
The Cardinals jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first six minutes and went on to take an 11-1 ledger into halftime.  Utica's halftime adjustments paid off as the Pioneers netted three goals in the second half and allowed just four against as they suffered their first E8 loss.
 
Capriglione scored Utica's first goal and then added two of the final three tallies, while her sister, Noelle Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford) also scored.  Senior Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) extended her scoring streak to seven games as she netted one goal and added one assist.  Freshman Stephanie Husnay (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) also dished out one assist for the Pioneers.
 
Natalie Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford) led UC with four draw controls, while Hailee DuMont (Wilkes-Barre, PA/James M. Coughlin) picked up a team-high three ground balls.  Sophomore Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central) made 11 saves in the loss.