Women's Lacrosse | 4/6/2024 3:57:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY - For the first time in program history, the Utica University women's lacrosse team (10-2, 2-0 Empire 8) came out victorious over the Nazareth University Golden Flyers thanks to a 13-10 win on Saturday afternoon. The win also extends the team's winning streak to 10 straight games.
Samantha DeCondo led the team with four goals on seven looks on net while Alyssa Pisano also registered a hat-trick with three scores. Grace Stuhlman and Daniela Muscari had two goals apiece while Kerry Carr and Alyssa Drell rounded out the scoring with one each.
Carr, DeCondo, and Drell each had one assist as well. In goal, Makayla Purdy picked up the win as she made 10 saves with 10 goals allowed along with a team high four ground balls.
As a team, the Pioneers out-shot the Golden Flyers 35-26 including 26-20 on goal. Utica controlled draws, 14-12, and cleared 16 of 20 attempts.
Nazareth jumped out to a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the game on a Julia Dietz free position goal. Just over a minute later, Pisano evened the game to help set up Grace Stuhlman's go ahead goal at 8:52 of the first as the game eventually moved into the second quarter with the Pioneers ahead, 2-1.
The Golden Flyers responded back by notching three of the first four goals in the new quarter and would hold a one-goal edge until just under five minutes to play in the half. That's when the Utica started its run of five unanswered goals.
DeCondo started the scoring spree with her first of the game at 4:56 in the second while Pisano came back with the go ahead score at 4:41. Then with 46 seconds left, Muscari sent the team into the break with a 6-4 lead off the back of her second goal of the quarter.
Then in the third, DeCondo registered her second at the 11:32 mark before Drell buried a free position shot to put the team up 8-4. In the third, Purdy denied each of Nazareth's four shots on goal to keep them off the board and help the Pioneers build a four-goal cushion with 15 minutes to play.
The fourth quarter was the highest scoring 15-minute stretch by far with the teams combining for 11 goals. Nazareth got back on the board for its first time in roughly 25 minutes of game time at 13:25 of the fourth while Pisano answered right back with 11:44 to play. The sides exchanged goals yet again at 10:21 (Kate Metler) and DeCondo (man-up at 9:55) as the Pioneers remained in command.
Nazareth began to make a late push with scores at 6:17 and 4:56 to cut its deficit to two. However, Utica rattled off three goals in a row with the first off the stick of Carr and the following pair scored by Grace Stuhlman. The Golden Flyers scored twice with under a minute to play but the Pioneers' lead was insurmountable for the hosts as Utica walked away with the 13-10 victory.
Utica (10-2, 2-0 Empire 8) will head back to Rochester, NY next Saturday, April 13, for a 1 p.m. contest against St. John Fisher University. The winner of the game will take sole possession of first place in the Empire 8 as both teams stand atop the conference at 2-0.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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