ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Oneonta women's lacrosse team won an 11-9 back-and-forth battle against Nazareth in their home opener on Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons (1-1) led 8-4 at halftime as Nazareth fell to 0-3 on the season.

Freshman Ava Fitzsimons (Pearl River, NY/Pearl River) won the opening draw control for Oneonta, and it was a scoreless game until sophomore Angelina Weinhart scored the first goal of the game to put the Red Dragons up 1-0. Gwen Newtown responded with a goal at 8:06 to tie the game for Nazareth in the first period. At 7:26, Megan Martin put Nazareth up 2-1 with an assist by Briana Panko.

Senior McKenzie Busch (Babylon, NY/Babylon Jr./Sr.) recorded a ground ball pickup for Oneonta, at 6:40, leading to Weinhart's second goal of the game to tie the game at 2-2 for Oneonta at 6:05. Two more goals were scored in the period; one by Grace Gardner to put Nazareth up 3-2 at 4:53 and senior Chelsea Dodenhoff (Islip Terrace, NY/East Islip) to tie the game 3-3 for Oneonta at 1:14.

The second period started with a quick goal by Amber Wright, assisted by Newtown to put Nazareth up 4-3 at 14:09. Panko and Newtown were able to get a pair of on-goal attempts, but freshman Ava Berkowitz (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville) saved both of them. Fitzsimons recorded an on-goal attempt for Oneonta that was saved by Allie Klestinec. Oneonta scored two quick goals, with Dodenhoff tying the game at 4-4 with a woman-down goal for Oneonta at 10:46. Fitzsimons won the draw control leading to Fitzsimons finding the back of the net to put Oneonta up 5-4 with a man-down goal at 10:33. The first half ended with Oneonta leading 8-4 after two goals by senior Lindsey Townes (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown), and a goal by freshman Emily McIntee (East Islip, NY/East Islip) assisted by Townes.

Nazareth scored the only goal of the third quarter, scored by Grace Gardner, to cut the lead to 8-5 at 1:13.

Fitzsimons extended Oneonta's lead to 9-5 at 12:36 with an assist by Dodenhoff at 12:36. Newtown won the draw control for Nazareth and Megan Martin responded with a goal at 11:52, assisted by Gardner. Gardner cut the lead to 9-7 with a free position goal at 11:08. Freshman Madison DeAngelis (Hamilton, NY/Hamilton Central) (Hamilton, NY, Hamilton Central) scored at 9:19 to extend Oneonta's lead back up to 3 goals.

Panko cut the lead to 10-8 with a free position goal at 6:32, and the score was held until Fitzsimons caused a turnover on Klestinec, leading to a goal by Dodenhoff at 0:34. Elizabeth Smith won the draw control for Nazareth which led to quick goal by Megan Martin, assisted by Gardner at 0:21. Oneonta secured the 11-9 win after Nazareth's final shot of the game went wide.

Dodenhoff finished the game with three goals, two assists, and three groundballs. Weinhart finished with two goals and one groundball. Fitzsimons finished with two goals and three groundballs. Townes finished with two goals, an assist, and five groundballs. Busch finished with two ground balls.

Gardner and Martin led Nazareth in scoring with three goals each. Gardner added an assist. Panko recorded four groundballs, while Sherwood and Newtown recorded two groundballs each.

Ava Berkowitz (Pleasantville, NY/Pleasantville) made seven saves in goal, and junior Margot Haring (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks) made six saves in goal for Oneonta. Allie Klestinec made twelve saves in the net for Nazareth.

Oneonta next hosts Hartwick on Wednesday, March 4, at 4 p.m.