ROCHESTER, NY- The Utica University women's lacrosse team fell to host Nazareth College 17-9 in their Empire 8 Conference finale on Saturday. 
 
Utica has solidified the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament next weekend.  The Pioneers will take on Naz, which locked up the No. 2 seed, again next Saturday at St. John Fisher College.  Game time is still to be determined.
 
Utica led 3-2 midway through the first quarter thanks to a pair of goals from senior Ashley Guerra (Ionia, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima ) and one tally by sophomore Mara Cunningham (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury).  However, Nazareth scored four goals over the final 4:11 of the quarter to take a 6-3 lead after 15 minutes of play.
 
Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) brought the Pioneers back within two as she netted the first goal of the second quarter, but Nazareth responded with five unanswered scores to close out the first half with an 11-4 lead.
 
The third quarter was more of the same as the Golden Flyers outscored Utica 5-1.  Despite netting four goals and holding Naz to just one in the fourth quarter, it was not enough as Nazareth handed Utica its second conference loss of the season.
 
Guerra led the way for the Pioneers as she finished with six points on four goals and two assists.  Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had two goals and one assist, while Cunningham, Muscari, and Addison Green (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) each finished with one goal.  Sophomore Aana Blaszka (Hampstead, NH/Pinkerton Academy) led the Utica defense by causing three turnovers and picking up three ground balls.
 
Claire Frier (Lafayette, NY/Lafayette) made 10 saves in net for Utica, while Emma Prosak and Katie Lawrence combined for six saves as they split time in net for the Golden Flyers. 
 
Utica (11-3, 4-2) will wrap up the regular season on Tuesday as it travels to nearby Hamilton College.  Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.