UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's lacrosse team played host to Nazareth University, opening the Empire 8 conference schedule for both squads. The visiting Golden Flyers took the early lead, but tides turned in favor of the Pioneers as the game progressed, concluding with a 6-0 Utica fourth quarter in which Nazareth did not achieve a shot on goal. After 60:00, the orange and blue stood tall by a score of 13-7. The win moves Utica to 5-2 overall in 2026, and 1-0 in the conference.
Seven separate Pioneers netted a goal in the contest, but junior
Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) covered the score sheet, recording eight total points, via four goals and assists. Stuhlman continues the hottest streak of her career, as after reaching six points for the fifth time in her career two games ago, she achieved seven for the first time ever last game, and now eight for the first time in her career. Attackers
Bella Kolb (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and
Alyssa Specchio (Chenango Forks, NY/Chenango Forks) both totaled three points, Kolb via a hat trick, and Specchio with two goals and one assist, the team's only other not from Stuhlman. The remaining goal scoring was split between
Alexis Alteri (Clinton, NY/Clinton),
Jessica Marciano (Churchville, NY/Churchville Chili),
Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), and
Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy). Specchio led the team with four ground balls, tying with Brennan for the team lead with three caused turnovers apiece. Stuhlman pulled in seven of the team's 10 draw controls, with Specchio accounting for the other three. In net, junior
Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) made five saves in her fifth win of 2026.
Nazareth's point scoring was consolidated to four players, headed by Grace Gardner. Gardner netted four goals, the only multi-goal Golden Flyer, in addition to one assist. Maria DeLorenzo added one goal, and two assists, the team's only others. Megan Martin and Gwen Newtown notched the final Nazareth goals. The Golden Flyers achieved seven total caused turnovers, split between three players. Emma Bossard accounted for three, with both Briana Panko and goalie Allie Klestinec recording two. In addition to 11 saves between the pipes, Klestinec led the team with five ground balls, just short of half of the team's 12 total.
The visitors opened the scoring 45 seconds into play with an unassisted goal by Gardner before teams took some time to settle in. DeLorenzo netted a feed from Gardner to build the Nazareth lead with 7:10 remaining in the quarter before Stuhlman netted a goal 1:05 later. Alteri found the back of the net off a pass from Stuhlman with 3:54 remaining to tie the game before Gardner scored once more for the Golden Flyers to close the first quarter up 3-2.
In the second frame, the Golden Flyers again opened the scoring, this time ticking 5:18 off the clock before doing so. Newtown netted an assist from DeLorenzo to give Nazareth its second two-goal lead of the day. The teams began trading blows after this score, with Kolb scoring for Utica, followed by Martin for the visitors, and Stuhlman again for the Pioneers. The first half closed with the Golden Flyers nursing a 5-4 lead.
Nazareth jumped out scoring in the second half, with Gardner netting two unassisted goals within the first 56 seconds of the third quarter, but these marked the final goals of the game for the visitors. Brennan scored her first of the season with 10:53 remaining in the frame off a feed by Stuhlman, followed by Specchio assisting on a man-up Kolb goal 41 seconds later to cut Nazareth's lead back to one. With 3:43 left in the quarter, Specchio found the back of the net on an unassisted goal to even the score at 7-7 entering the final 15 minutes.
In the final frame, the Pioneers were the team with a hot start, with Stuhlman finding Kolb to allow her to complete her hat trick. Just over a minute later, Stuhlman netted her own hat-trick-goal, followed by her fourth with 8:14 left in the contest. With 4:01 left, Stuhlman found Fragapane on the crease, allowing the senior to score the first of her career. Within the final 2:31 of play, Marciano and Specchio each added goals to complete the day's scoring. The orange and blue closed the day with a 13-7 victory in the first conference matchup of the season.
The Pioneers will look to carry momentum into a road matchup with #23-ranked St. John Fisher University next Wednesday, April 1st. Opening draw is set for 4:00 pm at SJF's Growney Stadium. Utica returns to Gaetano Stadium next Saturday, April 4th, in a matchup with Keuka College.
