BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State women's lacrosse team fell at home, 10-9, to the Utica University Pioneers in non-conference play.

GAME BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Utica University - 10, Buffalo State - 9
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 2-1 (0-0 SUNYAC), Utica University: 2-1 (0-0 Empire 8)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) led the Bengals with six points, scoring five goals and one assist. Willick's 11 points this year move her to 213 career points, now in the program's top five, passing Ashley Caporizzo (209).
• Kira Grzechowiak (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) and Emilee Josker (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) each scored twice. Kaylee Cadez (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley) added two assists.
• On defense, Grzechowiak led the team with three turnovers and seven groundballs, with Emma Ramseier (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) added two caused turnovers, helping solidify the defensive effort in key moments.
• In net, Brielle Lum (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) made nine saves. Moira Penot (Clifton Heights, PA/Upper Darby) added one save.
• The Pioneers outshot the Bengals, 25-24, with both sides finishing with ten draw controls apiece.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a non-conference win over Nazareth University, the Bengals hosted Utica, looking to continue their strong start.
• In the opening quarter of play, the Pioneers would strike first with a goal in the opening minute of play, before the Bengals returned the favor with a goal of their own. A back-and-forth quarter saw both teams' defenses step up, forcing turnovers and making things hard on the opposition. As time ticked away, the Pioneers would find the back of the net late in the quarter, taking the lead into the second quarter.
• In the second quarter, the Pioneers struck again with another goal in the opening minutes. A stretch of back-and-forth goals would see the Bengals tighten the gap on the Pioneers' lead, but another late goal would give the Pioneers a two-goal advantage as both sides headed into halftime.
• In the third, the Pioneers would extend their lead to three goals, following another free-position goal in the opening minutes of play. With the Bengals' backs on the wall, a three-goal run would shift the momentum in their favor, tying this matchup back up. However, the Pioneers would respond with back-to-back goals to retake a two-goal advantage over the Bengals. With the third quarter nearing its end, a Bengals goal in the final minute would make this matchup a one-goal advantage as these sides entered the fourth quarter.
• In the final quarter, the Bengals tied the game, sparking an intense finish. The Pioneers answered with two quick goals to take a two-goal lead. The Bengals scored with one minute left, making every possession critical, but their last-second opportunity was stopped as the Pioneers held on to defeat the Bengals at home in this non-conference matchup.

FOR THE FOES

• Alyssa Speechio led the Pioneers with three goals, while Jessica Marciano picked up three points with two goals and an assist.
• In the net, Makayla Purdy picked up the win with 11 saves.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will look to bounce back from this performance, returning home next Wednesday, March 11th, as they host the Hilbert College Hawks at 4:00 PM.