ONEONTA, N.Y. - Utica outscored the Oneonta women's lacrosse team 5-1 in the fourth quarter to secure a 17-14 comeback win on Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons fall to 0-3 with the loss, while the Pioneers pick up their first win and move to 1-3.
Utica struck 12 seconds into the first quarter, with Courtney Fish scoring on a quick pass from Belicia Biette. Oneonta responded soon after when senior Cassidy Moore (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) fired three straight shots at the Utica goal. The third finally broke through as Oneonta tied 1-1.
Utica's Grace Stuhlman netted the following two goals to take a 3-1 lead. Moore scored again at 3:38, but Stuhlman netted a free-position goal at 2:13 to hold a 4-2 lead. Senior Elizabeth Doherty (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) answered with a free-position goal to make it a one-score game heading into the second.
Stuhlman netted the opening goal of the second quarter. Oneonta then went on a 5-0 run with three goals from Moore and a pair from senior Ellie Downey (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) and junior Lindsey Townes (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) to lead 8-5. Maria Stuhlman slipped a goal in at 2:50 to cut the lead to two, but goals from Doherty and Downey pushed the Red Dragons ahead 10-6. A final goal from M. Stuhlman in the final second put the score at 10-7 at halftime.
Oneonta built up to a 12-7 lead after freshman Angelina Weinert (Levittown, NY/Division Avenue) netted her first-career goal off an assist from junior Chelsea Dodenhoff (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip) at 10:09. The Red Dragons scored again at 8:21 with Downey finding the back of the net, but the Pioneers closed out the third quarter on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 13-12.
Utica tied at 11:27 following a Biette goal. Oneonta retook the lead with Doherty scoring at 8:38. Utica scored on a man-up at 7:01 and then scored three within three minutes to take the 17-14 win.
Moore led Oneonta with five goals, eight draw controls, and an assist. Doherty had three goals and one assist, while Downey finished with three goals, two assists, and three ground balls. Townes added two goals and three draw controls.
G. Stuhlman scored eight goals with 14 draw controls, while M. Stuhlman had four goals, two caused turnovers, and four ground balls. Fish scored twice.
Julia Hawkins (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) made eight saves in goal, while Makayla Purdy had ten.
Oneonta next travels to Florida to face Vassar on Wed. Mar. 12 at 10 a.m. (CT).
