NEW PALTZ, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team got off on the right foot as it downed host SUNY New Paltz 14-7 in the 2020 season opener Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led UC with five goals and two assists on the day.  
 
Utica opened the scoring just 5:01 into the game as Scaccia scored off a free position to put the Pioneers up 1-0.  UC tacked on goals by Stephanie Husnay (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) to take a 3-0 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.  
 
New Paltz came within one at 13:24, but Palmer and Husnay scored back-to-back goals again, this time just 1:11 apart to regain the three-goal cushion with 11:33 left in the first half.  Each team added on one more score as the Pioneers went into halftime holding a 6-3 lead. 
 
UC came out firing in the second stanza, scoring six of the next seven goals to take a commanding 12-4 lead with 16:08 to play.  
 
New Paltz added goals by Shannon Brosnan, Katie Zito, and Jennifer O'Leary to make it 12-7 with 13:42 remaining, but the Pioneer defense shut the door.  Scaccia added her fifth of the day and freshman Reva Mussi (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) netted her first collegiate goal to guide UC to victory.
 
Seven points in a single game is a new career-best for Scaccia, who extended her scoring streak to 15 games dating back to March 12 of last season.  She also finished with a game-high six caused turnovers and seven draw controls.  Husnay netted four goals and added one assist, while Palmer finished with three goals and two assists, and was right behind Scaccia with six draw controls.  Husnay meanwhile scooped up a team-leading four ground balls.  Junior Lauren Wolff (Peabody, MA/Peabody) and Mussi each finished with one goal and one assist to aid the offense. 
 
Senior Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central) made 12 saves in the win, while her counterpart, Haley Timarky turned aside 10 shots.  
 
The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they welcome SUNY Canton for their home-opener.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.