UTICA, NY - Crosstown rivals Utica University and SUNY Poly met at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Wednesday evening for each team's women's lacrosse season opener. The Pioneers walked away with a convincing 20-0 win over the Wildcats. 
 
Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the team with six goals on six shots on goal, including a first period hat trick. Abigail Gerling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had a career-high four goals and seven ground balls, which was another career-best. With her four goals, Gerling also matched her career total heading into the game. 
 
Freshman Belicia Biette (Troy, NY/Columbia) recorded her first collegiate points when she scored with three minutes left in the first quarter while also going on to add three helpers. Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored two goals and added two assists. Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd) found the back of the net twice. Aana Blaszka (Hampstead, NH/Pinkerton Academy) and Mara Cunningham (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) each had a goal and one assist. Ruby Ackerman (Bethel, CT/Bethel) and Jessica Marciano (Rochester, NY/Churchville Chili) scored their first collegiate goals as well, each finishing the evening with one. Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) added one assist and one ground ball. 
 
Breese Burlinggame (Binghamton, NY/Northfield Mount Hermon) made her first career start and notched her first career win while saving five shots. Abigail Reed (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) saw time in the fourth, recording one save. Shaylynn Palmer (Kirkville, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) also appeared with no goals against.
 
The Pioneers were a perfect 14-for-14 clearing the ball and went 5-for-5 in the first and third quarters alone. The team shot the ball 28 times on net, including 14 shots on goal in the first quarter, while limiting Poly to six throughout the game. Utica also forced 26 Wildcat turnovers and scooped up 39 ground balls to Poly's 26. 
 
The Pioneers went up early and never looked back. DeCondo scored a hat trick in the first six minutes of regulation which ultimately set the game apart. Utica finished the first ahead 10-0 before the team went into halftime with a convincing 12-0 lead. 
 
Utica held Poly to only two shots in the second half, both of which coming in the fourth, while firing off 16 more for eight goals as a unit. The Pioneers all-around play helped the team cruise to a season-opening shutout victory. 
 
Utica (1-0, 0-0 Empire 8) will face a quick turnaround as the team travels to SUNY New Paltz at 3 p.m. on Thursday.