UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse team will travel to Russell Sage College on Wednesday, April 19 at 4 p.m, before heading back home for Senior Day against Alfred University on Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m.
 
Follow Along: For those not able to attend Wednesday's game at Russell Sage, their stream can be found through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sageathletics/. Saturday's live stats and video against Alfred University can be found at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
 
Senior Day: Prior to Saturday's game, the Utica women's lacrosse program will honor seniors Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Delaney Dunham (Auburn, NY/Jordan Elbridge), Megan Hourican (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) and Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook), who are each competing in their final season with the team. 
 
Last Time Out: Leading the charge for the Pioneers this afternoon was Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), who found the back of the net five times, and tallied two assists for a total of seven points. The trio of Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook), Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), and Katie Crofoot (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) each tallied two goals. Rounding out the scoring for the Pioneers was Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd), Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington), and Mara Cunningham (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) who tallied one goal each. In goal, Breese Burlingame (Binghamton, NY/Northfield Mount Hermon) picked up her sixth win of the season, tallying 10 saves on 18 shots on goal. As a team, the Pioneers outshot the Mavericks 37-22 with 27 of their shots falling on goal. Utica also completed a perfect 12 for 12 on clear attempts. In the opening frame, the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead off the sticks of Crofoot and Drell. Not too long after, the Mavericks answered the call to tie the game at two apiece with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter. Just 25 seconds later, Katie Crofoot (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) took back the lead for Utica, followed by a goal from Stuhlman to close out the opening quarter ahead by two. The Pioneers got to business early in the second quarter, with Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) netting her first of the afternoon with 14:22 remaining in the frame. After adding another set of goals from Mara Cunningham (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury)and Sam DeCondo, the Pioneers would maintain their momentum and not let the Mavericks cut into the lead by more than four goals for the rest of the game. 
 
Experience Is Key: Seniors Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook), Megan Hourican (Staten Island, NY/Curtis), and Delany Dunham each had a phenomenal week against Hartwick and Medaille. Against Hartwick, Muscari recorded a season-high four goals and one assist. She opened up the scoring in the first three minutes scoring two goals. Muscari found the net another two times against Medaille to improve her point-streak to four games. DeCondo has been more than just a goal-scorer over the last two contests, she has collected three assists on top of scoring eight goals. She has recorded a point in 11 of 12 games this season and has shown no signs of slowing down. Hourican has appeared in seven games this season and played key defensive moments against Plattsburgh and Hartwick. Dunham has started all 12 games at defense this season and has been playing lockdown for the Pioneers all season.
 
Saving Grace: Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has been shooting lights-out and had herself a balanced weekend. She also picked up player of the week honors this past week in the Empire 8. Sthulman has scored 20 goals dating back to the matchup against Nazareth College on April 1. She currently ranks fifth in the conference with 44 goals and is fourth in points with 59, 16 points shy of the current leader. Against Hartwick, she scored six goals with her last two coming in the second half with the last one coming with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. Stuhlman tacked on two goals and four assists while winning eight draw controls against Medaille. 
 
Breesin' Along: Brick wall Breese Burlingame (Binghamton, NY/Northfield Mount Hermon) is having herself a dominant season and picked herself up a second Empire 8 weekly honors. She is currently leading the Empire 8 with a .514 save percentage and she is second in the conference with 130 saves. Against Hartwick, she recorded nine saves on 21 shots on-goal while also scooping up four ground balls and causing one turnover. Versus Medaille, Burlingame gobbled up 10 saves while only allowing four goals in the second half on six shots on-goal. 
 
Scoopin' Up: The Pioneers sit at-top the Empire 8 with 301 ground balls and rank 23rd in Division III. The team scooped up 24 ground balls in the last two games against Hartwick and Medaille. This is the 10th game this season where they have collected more than 20, the most was against SUNY Poly (39). Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) leads the way with 31, as she has recorded at least one ground ball in each game. 
 
Scouting Russell Sage: Sage is 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8. They're coming off a 21-5 win against Keuka. Grace Hines is having a successful junior season, with 45 goals and 10 assists, last season against Utica she collected four points. She sits second in the Empire 8 with 4.50 goals per game and ranks sixth in points per game with 55. Junior, Alexandra Queeney is second on the team with 28 goals and 13 assists. She is third in the Empire 8 averaging 6.30 draw controls per game. In net, Sophomore Madalynn Walsh has started all ten games posting a .319 save percentage with 11.41 goals against. Ashley Hearn sits in second place in the conference with 45 ground balls. 
 
Looking at Alfred: The Saxons are 1-10 overall with a 1-4 Empire 8 record. The team is coming off a 22-6 loss against Hartwick College. They are led by Amelia Booth who has 35 goals and eight assists. She also leads the team with 68 draw controls. Last season against the Pioneers, she netted four goals and won nine draws. Booth is entering the contest recording a point in 10-out-of-11 games played this season. Brenna Turner sits second on the team with 13 goals and she leads the Saxons with 11 assists. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Piechota is leading the Empire 8 with 14.18 saves per game and saves with 156. In the 2022 season against Utica, she racked up 17 saves. 

Up Next: The team will travel to SUNY Canton on Wednesday, April 26 at 4 p.m.