UTICA, NY - Utica University women's lacrosse team hits the road for a non-conference game against Elmira College on Wednesday, March 25. The opening draw is set for 4:00 pm at Campus Field in Elmira, NY. The Pioneers will then return home for an Empire 8 conference matchup against the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Saturday, March 28. The opening draw is set for 1:00 pm at Gaetano Stadium in Utica, NY.    
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for the Elmira game can be found HERE, with live stats available HERE. Live video for the home game against Nazareth can be found HERE, with live stats available HERE.

Last Week's Games: Utica split its pair of contests last week, opening with a road setback at Oswego State before bouncing back with a strong home performance against SUNY Morrisville. In the 17-5 loss to the Lakers, sophomore Alyssa Specchio (Chenango Forks, NY/Chenango Forks) and junior Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each scored twice to lead the offense, while Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) made nine saves in net. The Pioneers responded the following day with a 13-8 victory over the Mustangs, fueled by a dominant performance from Stuhlman, who totaled four goals and two assists, while senior captains Jessica Marciano (Churchville, NY/Churchville Chili) (four goals) and Alexis Alteri (Clinton, NY/Clinton) (three goals, five caused turnovers, six ground balls) each turned in standout efforts. The win also saw strong contributions from Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) and Stuhlman at the draw, as the Pioneers used a decisive second-quarter run to secure the bounce-back victory.

Early Season Honors: The Pioneers have had several standout weeks in the early season, earning Empire 8 Conference Honors three separate times. Following the season opener, Specchio was named the E8's Offensive Player of the Week for her five-goal season debut. In addition, she was the only Pioneer in the game with more than one draw control, pulling in three. After a one-week break, Purdy returned to the honorees, claiming the Defensive Player of the Week award following an 11-save win that included a long-range assist, the first of her career. Most recently, Stuhlman was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her four-goal, two-assist stretch last week.

Soaring Eagle Scout: Elmira enters Wednesday's matchup still searching for its first win of the 2026 campaign, sitting at 0-5 overall after a challenging non-conference slate. The Soaring Eagles have struggled to generate consistent offense, totaling 15 goals across their first five games while allowing 71 on the defensive end, and have been outshot 183-62 during that span.

Elmira's attack has leaned heavily on senior Kelsey Stewart, who has netted 11 of the 15 total Soaring Eagle goals. The remaining goal scoring is split between freshmen Sandra Angell (three) and Jenna Forrest (one). No Soaring Eagle has recorded an assist so far this season. Stewart has been valuable outside of the offensive zone as well, leading the team with eight caused turnovers, and sitting second in both ground balls (25) and draw controls (14). Similarly, Angell leads the team with another 20 of the team's 40 draw controls, and sits third in both ground balls (23) and caused turnovers (three). Freshman goalie Kaleigh Kruger has been a core piece of the Soaring Eagle defense, leading the squad with 27 ground balls while also maintaining a 14.20 goals allowed average and a .441 save percentage through 300:00 of play.

Matchup History: Utica has historically controlled the series against Elmira, holding a 15-5 all-time record dating back to 2001. The Pioneers have won seven straight meetings between the programs from 2014 through their most recent clash in 2021, a 23-4 road victory that also stands as their largest margin of victory in the series. Utica is 8-2 at home and 7-3 on the road against the Soaring Eagles, with a 14-5 edge in conference contests and a 9-1 mark over the last 10 matchups, highlighted by several high-scoring performances and a narrow 7-6 win in 2012.

Notes on Nazareth: Nazareth heads into Saturday's Empire 8 opener at Utica still seeking its first win of the 2026 season, sitting at 0-8 overall after a difficult non-conference schedule that has featured opponents like RIT, St. Lawrence, and John Carroll. The squad's closest contests came in a three-game stretch from February 28th to March 7th when the Golden Flyers lost 11-9 to Oneonta, 9-6 to Buffalo State, and 7-4 to Fredonia.

The Golden Flyer offense has been led by a duo of upperclass attackers: Grace Gardner and Megan Martin. Gardner has turned in 17 goals and 10 assists, both significant team leads. Martin has notched 10 scores, and Gwen Newtown has added five as the only other Nazareth player to score more than twice. Behind Gardner's 10, Newtown's three is the only other Golden Flyer with multiple assists. On defense, senior Emma Bossard has established her presence, leading the team with eight caused turnovers and sitting third with 10 ground balls. Senior goalie Allie Klestinec has played 427:02 of the 480 total minutes in net, posting a 14.05 goals allowed average and a .474 save percentage while also leading the team with 18 ground balls.

Matchup History: Nazareth has historically controlled the series against Utica, owning the majority of wins in the all-time matchup. The Golden Flyers recorded multiple double-digit victories in the early 2010s before Utica earned its first win in the series with a 13-10 decision on April 6, 2024. Recent seasons have included regular-season and postseason meetings, with Nazareth remaining one of Utica's most frequent Empire 8 opponents.

15 For Life: Utica's home matchup against the Golden Flyers will be the team's "15 for Life" Game. The game raises awareness for the 15 For Life Foundation initiative, which uses sport as a platform to spark honest conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Built around the idea that a jersey number can become a lifelong reminder to check in, listen, and be there for others, the campaign encourages athletes, coaches, and fans to recognize warning signs, reduce stigma, and connect those who are struggling with help. On game day, the 15 For Life branding and messaging serve as visible reminders that no one is alone, reinforcing the foundation's core commitment to education, awareness, and supporting mental wellness both on and off the field.

Up Next: The Pioneers will return to the road, traveling to take on St. John Fisher on Wednesday, April 1st. Action is set to start at 4:00 pm at Growney Stadium. Utica next returns to their home field on Saturday, April 4th, in a matchup with the Keuka College Wolves.