UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's lacrosse team returned to Gaetano Stadium on Wednesday afternoon and turned in a commanding performance against Hartwick College. The Pioneers controlled the game from the opening draw and never looked back on their way to a 15-5 Empire 8 victory. The win moves Utica to 10-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play as the team now turns its attention to Saturday's regular-season finale against SUNY Geneseo.
Multiple members of the Pioneer offense had standout days, with four different players recording multi-goal efforts. Utica's four-goal scorers consisted of
Maria Stuhlman (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and
Bella Kolb (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), who combined for eight of the team's 15 tallies and were a constant threat from the free-position line. Stuhlman finished with four goals on eight shots and went 2-for-2 on free-position opportunities, while Kolb matched her with four goals and converted three of her four free-position attempts.
The Pioneers also received big contributions from their attacking core.
Alyssa Specchio (Chenango Forks, NY/Chenango Forks) turned in a hat trick and added one assist,
Alexis Alteri (Clinton, NY/Clinton) recorded a well-rounded line with two goals and a game-high two assists, factoring into four Utica goals while also helping the draw unit.
Jessica Marciano (Churchville, NY/Churchville Chili) and
Meghan Brennan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece, both striking during the decisive third-quarter surge.
Brennan led the team with nine draw controls, adding three ground balls while contributing to Utica's ride and transition game. Alteri contributed a strong six draw controls, helping the Pioneers secure a 17-5 advantage in the center circle. Marciano filled the stat sheet with four ground balls and two caused turnovers in another all-around performance.
On defense, Utica's back line and ride unit set the tone by holding Hartwick to just 13 total shots and forcing 18 turnovers. Defender
Ella Stanton (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon) led the charge in the defensive third, collecting a game-high five ground balls and adding a pair of caused turnovers as the Pioneers finished with a 21-18 edge on ground balls.
In goal,
Makayla Purdy (Shirley, NY/William Floyd) played all 60 minutes in net, making seven saves while helping the orange and blue convert 16 of 17 clear attempts and remain organized through the game. The win marked several notable achievements for Purdy. In the same moment, she earned just the fifth season in program history in which one goalie has earned 10+ wins, became the first player to become a repeat member of the aforementioned group, and tied the program's record for career wins by a goalie.
The teams traded early possessions to open the contest before the Pioneers struck first. Kolb opened the scoring 1:21 into the game with a free-position goal, before Specchio doubled the advantage at the 6:37 mark with a woman-up tally assisted by Marciano. Kolb added her second of the quarter at 2:31, sending Utica into the first break with a 3-0 lead after a dominant defensive effort that limited the Hawks to one shot on goal in the opening frame.
Utica continued to build its advantage in the second quarter, Alteri made it 4-0 with a woman-up free-position goal just 48 seconds into the quarter. Stuhlman followed at 8:52 with another woman-up strike to push the margin to 5-0. Hartwick broke through with its first goal at the 4:19 mark, but the Pioneers' defense held firm the rest of the way, sending Utica into halftime with a 5-1 lead and control of momentum.
The third quarter saw the Pioneers break the game wide open with a six-goal outburst. Specchio started the second-half scoring 1:10 into the frame off a feed from Alteri, before Brennan converted a man-up opportunity at 11:41, again assisted by Alteri. Marciano added a woman-up goal just 16 seconds later on a pass from Spechio, and Kolb netted another free-position tally at 10:14 to make it 9-1. Alteri then scored her second of the day at 9:29, and Stuhlman capped Utica's 11-1 run with an unassisted strike at 8:40 to give the Pioneers an 11-1 cushion. Hartwick closed the quarter with three goals, including a man-up finish from Jammie Decker and a late pair from Parker Laurin, trimming the deficit to 11-4 heading to the fourth.
The Pioneers quickly regained full control in the final frame, opening the fourth quarter with four unanswered goals. Stuhlman buried a free-position shot at 10:08 to start the run, and Specchio followed with another free-position finish at 9:22. Kolb added her fourth goal of the afternoon on a free-position attempt at 8:23, and Stuhlman completed her four-goal outing with yet another free-position strike at 3:34. Hartwick's Ahley Ament scored in the final minute on a free-position attempt, but Utica comfortably closed out the contest with a 15-5 win.
The Pioneers will close out regular season play against SUNY Geneseo on Saturday, April 25. Opening draw is set for 1:00 pm at Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers will then turn their focus to Empire 8 tournament play next week on Tuesday, April 28.
