FIVE PIONEERS NAMED TO E8 WOMEN’S LAX ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Gil Burgmaster
Utica, NY (5-4-12) – Five members of the Utica College women’s lacrosse team were named to the Empire 8 All-Conference Team Thursday. Senior attack Katlyn Banker and freshman defender Megan Kane earned first-team status, senior goalie Shelby Barbay was honored with second team recognition while senior attack Maria Santucci was named honorable mention and junior Stephanie Belanger was awarded Sportswomen of the Year.
Banker, from Henrietta, NY, led the squad in scoring with team-highs in points (60), goals (44), and assists (16). She also recorded 83 shots of which 67 were on goal and caused turnovers 28 turnovers, all team-high’s as well. In the first five games of the season, Banker had multiple goals in each contest including four consecutive with four plus goals.
Kane, who started all 15 games in her freshman campaign, finished fifth in scoring with 21 points on 16 goals and five assists. The Staten Island, NY native scooped up 42 groundballs along with causing 20 turnovers, both good enough for third on the team.
Barbay, Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010 and 2011, finished with a 103 total saves, a save percentage of .488 and 49 ground balls. She wrapped up her four year career as the college’s all-time leader in saves (548) and wins (26) as well as second in saves per game (9.96).
Santucci, from Holliston, MA, was third in scoring with 25 points on 21 goals and four dishes. Her 21 goals and .796 shots on goal percentage rank her second on the squad. She recorded six multi-goal games including four hat tricks.
Belanger, Utica’s backup goalie, is making her first appearance on the all-conference team. She was honored with Sportswomen of the Year for exemplifying what the conference states as “competing with honor and integrity” as an essential component of a student-athlete. In three games this season, she tallied 88:42 while recording 10 saves and allowing five goals.
The Pioneers wrapped up their 2012 campaign with an overall record of 8-7 including a 3-4 mark in the Empire 8 Conference. UC posted a 5-2 record on the road as well as a 5-3 record in non-conference play.
#17 STEVENS OUTLASTS UTICA IN E8 PLAY
Gil Burgmaster
#17 Stevens 10, Utica 5 – Box Score
Utica, NY (4-14-12) – The Utica College women’s lacrosse team kept the game close but could not overcome visiting and nationally-ranked No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology, as the Ducks earned a 10-5 victory in Empire 8 Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
Senior Katlyn Banker netted a game-high four goals to pace the Pioneers (5-5, 1-3 Empire 8). Four different Ducks scored at least two goals as the visitors improved their overall record to 8-4 and 3-1 in conference action. Kara Rafferty netted a team-high three goals, while Spencer Waybright, Jenna Scheibling and Gabrielle Gordon each added two goals apiece for the Ducks.
The visiting Ducks jumped out to a quick 1-0 nothing lead as Rafftery scored with just under a minute gone by in the first half. Stevens would go on to score five more first half goals to increase the Pioneer deficit to four going into the second half.
Banker tried pulling the Pioneers back into the game by scoring two of her four goals late in the second half. But the tenacious Ducks defense led by Waybright and Amanda Ingersoll, who each had four caused turnovers and four ground balls, seemed to be too much for the Pioneers to handle.
Sophomore Jennifer Rogaski and junior Lauren Gilmore led the Pioneer defense with two caused turnovers apiece. Rogaski, Banker and senior Maria Santucci each scooped up three ground balls.
UC goalie Shelby Barbay stopped four shots on the day to go along with her five caused turnovers and six ground balls. Her counterpart, Meg Collins stopped seven Pioneer shots and compiled three ground balls on the day.
After today’s loss, the Pioneers slide down into a tie for sixth place overall with Hartwick in the Empire 8.
Utica returns to the turf on Wednesday, April 18 as they host Keuka College. Game time is scheduled for 4 pm.
FISHER TOPS UTICA IN E8 WOMEN’S LACROSSE
St. John Fisher 11, Utica 7 – Box Score
Utica, NY – The St. John Fisher College women’s lacrosse used a 6-0 run in a span of 17 minutes midway through the contest to take a 9-4 lead, and the Cardinals never looked back, as they held host Utica College to three second half goals on their way to an 11-7 victory in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Friday night.
Senior captain Maria Santucci netted three goals for the Pioneers, while classmate Katlyn Banker added a career-high five assists.
The Pioneers snapped a two game winning streak as their record moved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The
Katlyn Banker tallied five assists for the Pioneers
Cardinals, who received a game-high four goals from Taylor Hughes, improved to 7-3 overall and remained perfect at 2-0 in the E8. Fisher jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first 3:12 of action behind a goal from Erin Ward and two straight from the stick of Melissa Leonhard.
The Pioneers answered with four consecutive goals to take a 4-3 lead in the next 11 minutes of action. Four different Pioneers’ scored, including Megan Kane, Banker, Santucci and Julia Primps.
Just 19 seconds after UC’s fourth goal the Cardinals exploded for six straight to essentially seal the victory. Hughes netted three of her four goals in the scoring barrage, while Tori Suto, Ward and Leonhard each registered a goal of their own. Fisher was able to hold Utica scoreless for nearly 20 minutes during the stretch.
Santucci netted two straight goals, just over three minutes apart in the first 6:34 of the second half to cut UC’s deficit to 9-6, but Fisher answered with a goal in the 21st minute to take a four goal advantage right back.
Janet Campo was able to register her sixth goal of the year in the 15th minute, but that was all the scoring Utica would get, as the Pioneers eventually lost by four, 11-7.
Banker picked up a team-best four ground balls for the Pioneers, while Meghan Olesen, Jennifer Rogaski and Lauren Gilmore each caused two turnovers.
Senior goalie Shelby Barbay stopped six shots in net for the Pioneers before being relieved by junior Stephanie Belanger with 28:42 left in regulation.
Leonhard added a game-high five draw controls, while Fisher’s Lindsey Shoales totaled five ground balls and four draw controls.
UC returns to the turf on Saturday when they take on Nazareth College in a conference match-up at 1 p.m.
PIONEERS ROLL TO THREE STRAIGHT IN WOMEN’S LAX
Press release Medaille
BUFFALO, NY – The Medaille College women’s lacrosse team had their two game win streak snapped in their home opener this afternoon as Utica College upended the Lady Mavs (20-7) in non-conference action at Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium.
The Lady Mavs jumped out to a (2-0) lead with (17:50) remaining in the opening half before the visitors netted six straight to seemingly take command of the game. However, Medaille struck back with three straight markers to claw within one goal (6-5) with (6:51) remaining in the first half. A disastrous final minute of the half would doom the Lady Mavs as the Pioneers tallied three goals in the last (00:54) seconds to grab momentum and a (9-5) halftime lead.
A seven goal spurt by the visitors to open the second half would put the game out of reach but Medaille stopped the bleeding by netting back to back goals before Utica closed out the scoring with four straight markers which sealed the victory.
Leading the way for Medaille was rookie Emily Brophy who tallied a team high three goals to go along with an assist. Junior Joey Ruderman found the back of the net twice while Taylor Hackford and Katie Botsford rounded out the Medaille scoring with a goal apiece. Sophomore Denay O’Connor would chip in with an assist.
Sophomore goalkeeper Christina Balestracci continued to play well between the posts, stopping (18) shots on the day. She also scooped up a game high (6) ground balls in the loss.
The loss evens the Lady Mavs record at (3-3). They will get back to work on Monday (4/9) when they travel to Cazenovia College for a 4:00pm NEAC matchup with the Wildcats.
Utica, NY – The Utica College women’s lacrosse team netted five goals in each half on its way to a 10-6 victory over visiting Hartwick College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday afternoon. Freshman Patricia Kane led all scorers with three goals, while her twin sister Megan Kane chipped in with a pair of goals and two assists to help UC improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Emily Jweid netted a team-high two goals as the Hawks (4-4, 0-1 Emp) dropped their third game in four tries.
Utica came out of the gates firing, as it jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first 18:21 of action. Four different Pioneers scored the first four goals of the game including, senior Katlyn Banker, Kane, senior Maria Santucci and freshman Samantha Gebler. Banker assisted on the Pioneers’ second and third goals, while freshman Morgan Dupont recorded a helper on Utica’s fourth goal of the contest.
Hartwick answered with two goals in a span of two minutes to cut the UC lead in half, 4-2, with 7:48 left before the first intermission. Ali Sisco and Jweid both got on the board for the visitors. The two teams exchanged blows before the half, and the score was set at 5-3 after 30 full minutes of action.
Utica came out hot once again in the second half as they tacked on three goals in the first 15:09 of action. The Kane sisters and Janet Campo each netted a goal to put UC on top by five, 8-3. However, the Hawks would not go down without a fight as they netted three of the game’s next four goals to cut UC’s lead to 9-6 with 6:50 left in regulation.
Freshman Patricia Kane netted a game-high three goals to help Utica improve to 1-0 in E8 play
Solid defense from senior goalie Shelby Barbay helped the Pioneers shut the door in the final six minutes, and Santucci added her second goal of the day with 17 ticks left on the clock as the Pioneers secured the four goal victory. Barbay finished the day with nine saves, seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Her counterpart, Steph Luce, stopped eight shots and scooped up six ground balls in net for the visitors.
UC converted on 3-of-9 free position shots, while Hartwick won 11 of 19 draw controls.
Megan Kane also added seven ground balls and five caused turnovers, while sophomore defender Keala King chipped in with five caused turnovers of her own for Utica.
Hartwick’s Erica Scicchitano picked up a game-high nine ground balls, won five draw controls and also added five caused turnovers.
The Pioneers, winners of four of their last five contests, closed out their three game home stand with a 2-1 record and they will return to non-conference action on Tuesday night when they travel to Medaille College. The contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Utica, NY (3/30/12)- The Utica College women’s lacrosse team prepares for its first Empire 8 Conference game, Saturday, as it takes on Hartwick College at 3 p.m. In honor of April being Autism Awareness month, the Pioneers are dedicating this game to “Lacrosse-for-Autism”.
“Lacrosse-for-Autism”: The Pioneers will hold two separate raffles during the game and the winner of each will be announced at the end of the game. UC will hold a 50/50 raffle and the program will also raffle off a basket full of Utica College lacrosse apparel. All support and donations will go directly to the Kelberman Center in Utica. The Kelberman Center is a regional center for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and related learning challenges.
“Our program is committed to giving back to the community and we believe that this event is a great opportunity to share our support and educate others about this common developmental disorder,” said Head Coach Kristin St. Hilaire.
The Pioneers would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Lax-for-Autism program:
Venice Pizzeria – Yorkville
Castlewood Cafe
Schoen Brothers Lacrosse
Killabrew Saloon – New Hartford
Carmella’s Cafe – New Hartford
For more information concerning the Lacrosse-for-Autism initiative please visit their webpage at www.lax4autism.com
Last Time Out: UC is coming off a 12-10 win against Oswego on Wednesday… Senior Katlyn Banker netted a game-high five goals and added two assists, while freshman Morgan Dupont had a career-high two goals and two assists.
Where We Sit: Utica is currently 3-2 overall headed into Empire 8 Conference play… Two of Utica’s three wins have been shutouts, while both losses have been by three goals or less.
Bank on Banker: Senior Katlyn Banker leads the team in all major categories… She has 25 points on 19 goals and six assists… She is averaging just under four goals per game, and has found the back of the net nine times to go along with three assists in her last two games… Her 4.50 points per game ranks her fifth in the conference.
Fantastic Freshmen: Freshmen classmates Samantha Gebler, Patricia Kane, and Morgan Dupont are right behind Banker in scoring… Gebler is second on the team with nine points on five goals and four assists, while Kane (eight goals) and Dupont (three goals, five assists) each have eight points.
Big D: In Utica’s tough two goal loss to Clarkson, twelve Pioneers recorded at least one ground ball, while eleven had at least one caused-turnover … Before this loss, the Pioneers posted back-to-back shutouts against Sage (17-0) and SUNY IT (16-0) … Those were the program’s first two shut outs in 12-years… UC has outscored opponents 59-29 throughout the first five games.
Between the Pipes: Senior Goalie Shelby Barbay is second in the conference with a .532 save percentage and leads the team with 21 ground balls… Junior Stephanie Belanger has four saves and had a hand in both shutouts.
Scouting Hartwick: The Hawks are 4-3 overall and are coming off an 11-10 win over Cazenovia… UC is 4-2 against Hartwick dating back to 2006, with the last loss coming in 2007… Last year UC beat the Hawks 8-5, with Banker netting two goals for the Pioneers.
Looking Ahead: UC will travel to Buffalo, NY Tuesday to take on non-conference opponent Medaille College. Face-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
