CANTON, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse team extended its winning streak to five games after defeating the SUNY Canton Kangaroos 13-9 on Wednesday. 
 
Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) tied a career high with seven goals while also assisting on one other for eight points. Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) had a multi-goal outing as well with two on three shots on goal. Four other Pioneers had a goal in the win as well. Breese Burlingame (Binghamton, NY/Northfield Mount Hermon) earned her 10th win of the season in goal as she made 13 saves on 22 Canton shots on goal. 
 
The Pioneers opened up red-hot out of the gates with three goals five minutes apart. Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored less than one minute into the contest for her 49th goal of the season. Not long after, Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) netted her first of the contest while Katie Crofoot (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) capitalized on a free position shot for an early 3-1 advantage. 
 
Canton responded with three straight of its own to eventually even the game 3-3. DeCondo completed yet another hat trick in the first quarter with two more goals coming with 2:37 and 2:13 left in the quarter to propel Utica to a 5-3 lead after one. 
 
In the second, the sides played stout defense until the 'Roos scored with just over eight minutes to play in the half. Less than one minute later, DeCondo reclaimed a two goal lead for the Pioneers before Canton closed out the half with two goals as he sides were deadlocked at 6-6. 
 
Utica came out of the break and controlled the offensive tempo in the third. Abigail Gerling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored roughly four minutes into the third before Canton came back to even things again with 8:11 left in the quarter. DeCondo and Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) scored back-to-back goals about one minute apart, DeCondo doing so on a free position. 
 
The 'Roos came back within one goal with under four minutes to play in the third however, DeCondo scored once again with under two to play as the Pioneers took a 10-8 lead into the final quarter of play. 
 
Utica created some breathing room in the fourth with quarter-opening goals by Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd) and Muscari. Although Canton got one goal back with around eight minutes to play, the Utica defense kept the home team off the board throughout the remainder of the game. DeCondo went on to fire in her seventh goal of the evening with 3:21 to put the finishing touches on the win. 
 
Utica (9-6, 4-2 Empire 8) will cap off its regular season on Saturday with a trip to Keuka College at 1 p.m.