BROCKPORT, NY - Utica University's women's lacrosse hit the road to take on the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles. At A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field, the hosts defeated the Pioneers 9-4, moving Utica to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in the Empire 8. The squad will look to bounce back in a home game next Tuesday against the University of Rochester, the team's final non-conference game.

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), who paced the offense with a team-high three points on one goal and two assists while filling up the defensive stat sheet. Stuhlman added five ground balls, two caused turnovers, and two draw controls in a complete two-way effort. Joining Stuhlman on the scoresheet were Alyssa Specchio (Chenango Forks, NY/Chenango Forks), Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug), and Belicia Biette (Troy, NY/Columbia), who each finished with one goal apiece. On defense, Ella Jentsch (Rosendale, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) and Olivia Grant (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) tied Stuhlman with two caused turnovers. In goal, Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) shouldered the workload, finishing with 12 saves while playing the full 60 minutes. 

Utica wasted no time responding to Brockport's opening marker, which came at the 10:47 mark of the first quarter, as Biette scored just 49 seconds later to pull the Pioneers level at 1-1. Brennan then gave Utica a brief 2-1 edge with 2:06 remaining in the quarter, finishing a feed from Stuhlman after extending possessions on offense. Brockport scored before the frame ended on a free-position goal with 50 seconds left, sending the team into the first break tied 2-2.

The Golden Eagles began to tilt the contest in the second quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 2-0 in the frame while capitalizing on extended woman-up time. Brockport netted its first goal of the quarter at 7:43 before adding a woman-up tally at 4:34 to make it 4-2 heading into halftime. Utica limited Brockport to eight shots in the quarter but could not break through on the other end, despite generating multiple successful clear attempts.

Out of the half, Brockport struck first once again, using a woman-up goal at 14:05 to push the margin to 5-2. Specchio answered at 9:22, converting on a free-position opportunity to trim the deficit to 5-3 and momentarily halt the hosts' momentum. Brockport extended its lead to 6-3 on a tally at 6:27, but the Pioneers responded as Stuhlman buried a free-position shot at 4:23 to pull Utica back within two. The Golden Eagles added a late third-quarter marker at 2:09 to restore the three-goal cushion heading into the final frame, 7-4. 

In the fourth, Utica generated several shot opportunities, including free-position attempts from Biette and Alexis Alteri (Clinton, NY/Clinton), but Brockport's defense and goalkeeper stood tall. The Golden Eagles struck again at 9:51, pushing the lead to 8-4 before adding another woman-up goal at 5:34 to close the scoring for a 9-4 final. Utica finished the afternoon with 19 total shot attempts, eight shots on goal, 16 ground balls, six draw controls, and an 11-of-16 mark on clears, while Brockport totaled 24 shots, 18 on goal, 19 ground balls, nine draw controls, and went 16-17 on the ride. 

The Pioneers (7-4, 3-2 Empire 8) will return home for their next outing against the University of Rochester on Tuesday, April 14th, at ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Opening draw is set for 4:00 pm.