UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse team will be at home for the second straight game Wednesday as the Pioneers host Russell Sage College. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
 
Follow Along: Fans who cannot be in attendance for the game can watch via live stream and/or keep up with live stats through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers picked up their first Empire 8 Conference win of the season last Wednesday against the visiting Hartwick College Hawks 15-6. After jumping out to a 1-0 lead just 2:55 into the game, Utica never looked back. Senior Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the way for the Pioneers with six points (three goals, three assists), while junior Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had five points (three goals, two assists) for Utica. Senior Addison Green (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) and sophomore Katie Crofoot (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) each had two goals, while senior Emily Rossi (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), sophomores Tracy Moreno (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) and Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd), freshman Morgan Madore (Higganum, CT/Haddam-Killingworth) and junior Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) each found the back of the net one time. Senior Claire Frier (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) made 10 saves en route to her sixth win of the season.
 
Conference Leaders: The 6-2 Pioneers are the best in the Empire 8 in a plethora of statistical categories. Utica leads the E8 in points per game (17.88), goals per game (12.75), assists per game (5.13), shots per game (34.13), woman-down goals per game (.63), goals margin (2.8) and overall winning percentage (.750).
 
Moving On Up: Senior Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has continued her outstanding career as she has made her way into the top 10 all-time in multiple career rankings. After Scaccia's four draw controls against Hartwick, she now sits at 203 for her career, which is third all-time. Scaccia's 157 career points currently place her sixth all-time, her 110 goals rank eighth.  Through eight games, Scaccia has accumulated 23 points (20 goals, three assists) and her four draw controls per game rank fifth among the Empire 8.
 
Daring DeCondo: Junior Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has been among the best for the Pioneers from the moment she put on a Utica uniform. DeCondo currently leads the team with 26 points (17 goals, nine assists) with three of her goals being game-winning goals.  DeCondo ranks among the top of the Empire 8 in multiple offensive statistical categories, including sixth in points per game (3.25), ninth in goals per game (2.13), and eighth in both assists per game (1.13) and shots per game (5.38). 
 
Dishing it Out: Senior Emily Rossi (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) ranks fifth in the conference with 1.25 assists per game.  Rossi is second on the squad with 24 points.  She has reached new career highs in goals (10), assists (14), and points.  She has recorded at least one point in each game so far this season. 
 
Scouting Sage: The Gators are currently 5-5 (2-0 E8) and are on a two-game winning streak. Sage is led by sophomores Grace Hines (33 goals, one assist) and Alexandra Queeney (19 goals, eight assists). Hines is currently second in the Empire 8 with 33 goals, and the team also leads the E8 with 310 ground balls and 137 caused turnovers. Utica is 5-0 all-time against Sage, with the last matchup coming on March 24, 2021, which resulted in a 20-2 Pioneer victory.
 
Looking Ahead: Utica will hit the road this coming Saturday against Alfred University. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.