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UTICA University Pioneers

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Utica University Athletics

Addison Green
19
Winner Utica College UTICA 5-1
7
SUNY Poly SPIW 0-3
Winner
Utica College UTICA
5-1
19
Final
7
SUNY Poly SPIW
0-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Utica College UTICA 9 10 19
SUNY Poly SPIW 2 5 7

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Twin Hat Trick Performances Power Pioneers Past Poly

UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's lacrosse team is now off to its best start since 2013, and the second best start in school history. The Pioneers became just the second team in program history to start 5-1, and they got their latest win in convincing fashion as they topped local rival SUNY Polytechnic Institute 18-7 on the road at Wildcat Field.

The Pioneer effort was strengthened by dueling hat trick performances on the afternoon. Freshman Jessie Biegel (Ridge, NY/Longwood) scored for a third straight game and went on to her first career three goal performance, and junior Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) nabbed her second hat trick of the season and had the game-winning goal. Katlyn Scarpinella (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) had a team high four points on two goals and two assists. Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) followed up her E8 Player of the Week performance with two goals and an assist, and Lauren Wolff (Peabody, MA/Peabody) and Stephanie Husnay (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each contributed a goal and two assists. 

Just hours after winning the Empire 8 goaltender of the week award for a third time already this season, Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central) turned in another stupendous effort with eleven saves on eighteen shots, including a first half where she derailed eight of ten Wildcat shots to assist the Pioneers in building a 9-2 halftime advantage.

Utica outshot the Wildcats for the day 29-18. The Pioneers lead the all-time series seven games to zero. SUNY Poly is now 0-3.

The Pioneers came out on a tear scoring the first four goals of the game in the opening 6:40. The locals set the Pioneers on the right course against their local opposition as Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) opened with two goals each.

The Pioneer attack was then quieted for a span of about thirteen minutes, and the Wildcats took advantage to halve Utica's early lead with a pair of goals. When the Pioneer attack picked back up, they started firing on all cylinders as they produced a five-goal burst to close out the first half. Palmer finished off her hat trick, Biegel netted a pair of goals, and Scarpinella scored twice in just over a minute as the Pioneers wrapped up the first half ahead 9-2.

The Pioneers did not stop there. Utica kept their foot on the gas pedal and continued their surge to twelve unanswered goals with seven more to begin the second half. With the game in hand, Kristin Krieg (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) went on to score the first and second goals of her career in the second half, and the Pioneers relented a few goals late but kept a comfortable lead in the 18-7 decision.

Utica cleared the ball effectively on the day at 11-of-13. Scarpinella and Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had eight ground balls apiece, and the pair combined for thirteen of the team's 22 draw controls. Utica had five free position opportunities over the course of the game.

The Pioneers return home from their five game road trip tomorrow as they host Oswego at 4 p.m. Utica is currently 2-0 at home with wins over New Paltz and Morrisville.
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