PLATTSBURGH, NY -  The Utica University women's lacrosse team defeated The Plattsburgh State Cardinals 17-5 on Saturday afternoon. Utica jumped out to a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back. Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led all scorers with four goals, one assist and four shots on goal.
 
Utica was led by Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (4g, 1a), Samantha Decondo (3g, 0a), Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (1g, 0a), Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) (1g, 1a), Kerry Carr (New Hartford, NY/Manhattanville College) (2g, 0a), Alyssa Drell (Mastic, NY/William Floyd) (2g, 0a), Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) (1g, 1a), Ruby Ackerman (Bethel, CT/Bethel) (1g, 0a), Daniela Muscari (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) (1g, 0a), Jessica Marciano (Rochester, NY/Churchville Chili) (1g, 0a) and Abigail Gerling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (0g, 1a).
 
Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) started in net securing her fourth win in a row while saving six shots.
 
Utica struck early and often in the first quarter as they have done in the last three games played. The trio on attack for Utica has been nothing short of phenomenal to begin the 2024 season. It only took three minutes for Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Drell to connect, giving the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. Shortly after, Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) notched another goal for Utica and 16 seconds later, Carr tallied Utica's third goal, extending the lead to 3-0 with 11:13 left to play in the first. With 9:17 in the quarter, Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) picked up her third goal of the afternoon while also posting her fourth multi-goal game in four out of six games played. The team would score two more goals in the span of two minutes giving Utica a 6-0 advantage with 7:53 to play. With 2:07 left, Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) assisted Muscari, tallying her third goal of the season and extending the lead to 7-0. With time running out, DeCondo scored the team's eighth goal and would head into the second up 8-0.
 
It only took Utica 53 seconds to score in the second quarter as Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) tallied an unassisted goal, extending the lead to 9-0. With 10:50 to play, Kowalski recorded her first career goal as a Pioneer, giving Utica a 10-0 lead. Plattsburgh would answer back with its first goal from Mckenzie Francis-Chubb cutting the lead to 10-1. DeCondo scored with 2:57 to play and Utica would head into halftime with an 11-1 advantage.
 
Plattsburgh opened the scoring in the third quarter as they would trail 11-2 with 13:54 to play. Utica would close out the third quarter with five unanswered goals as the team would go into the fourth quarter up 16-2.
 
The Cardinals would cut into Utica's lead early in the fourth quarter, scoring three goals in the first five minutes of play. Utica would go on to defeat the Cardinals 17-5.
 
Utica (4-2, 0-0 Empire 8) returns home on Wednesday, March 20 for a matchup against SUNY Morrisville. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.