PITTSFORD, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse fell to St. John Fisher, 20-5, in the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday afternoon at Gowney Stadium.
 
Grace Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Samantha DeCondo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each led Utica with one goal and one assist. G. Stuhlman led Utica with six draw controls. Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) and Bella Kolb (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) scored the Pioneer's three other goals. Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) picked up an assist and one draw control.
 
Goalkeeper Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) made nine saves in the outing, collecting five in the first half and four in the second.
 
Both teams found the back of the net early in the first quarter. SJF struck first just over two minutes into the game at the 12:32 mark. The Pioneers answered back after G. Stuhlman found a cutting Pisano who notched the game at 1-1. With 11:02 remaining, Mara Cunningham (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) caused a turnover for Utica which then led to a free-position goal for Kolb, giving Utica an early 2-1 lead. 
 
With 5:01 left, Purdy made a fantastic save on the doorstep, but Fisher collected the rebound and scored, tying the game at two. The Cardinals scored one more goal to close out the first quarter, leading 3-2 heading into the second.
 
St. John Fisher scored six unanswered in the second quarter, taking a commanding 9-2 lead into halftime. Utica won the ground ball battle five to four while Purdy made three saves. Both teams combined for 13 shots, eight from SJF and five from Utica.
 
G. Stuhlman opened the third quarter by recording her first goal with an apple from DeCondo, cutting Fisher's lead to 9-3. At the 11:24 mark, DeCondo tallied Utica's fourth goal with an assist from Kowalski. Fisher scored eight consecutive goals to close out the third quarter on a seven-goal run, entering the fourth quarter with a 16-4 advantage.
 
The Cardinals outshot Utica seven to two in the fourth. Both teams had three draw controls while Purdy made three saves. Utica scored one compared to Fisher's four which would ultimately close out the game. St. John Fisher would go on to win the Empire 8 Championship 20-5.
 
Utica ends its 2024 season having reached its first Empire 8 Championship game in program history while its 14 wins set a new single-season program record.