ONEONTA, NY – It took extra periods on Senior Day at Wright Stadium, but ultimately Utica was able to down the Hartwick women's lacrosse team in a crucial Empire 8 matchup, winning 10-9 on a woman-up, free-position goal from Kaitlynn Palmer in double overtime. The loss drops the Hawks to 6-7, 3-3 in the Empire 8, while the Pioneers are now 10-3, 4-2 in conference.
Hartwick seniors Hailey Pooler (Adams Center, NY/South Jefferson), Emma Knapp (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman), and Emma Kaplan (Danbury, CT/Danbury) were honored for their contributions to the program before the game.
Utica took the first lead of the day, scoring on a Katlyn Scarpinella free position shot 4:19 in. After eight-plus scoreless minutes, the Pioneers got two in quick succession. Scarpinella got her second of the game at 17:37, followed up by Palmer's first at 16:48 (assisted by Stephanie Husnay). Utica had several more chances in the first 15 minutes, but stout net-front defending by the Hawks defense and some impressive goaltending by Ashley Jablonowski (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) kept the deficit to just three. Pooler got 'Wick on the board at 14:15, converting on a free position shot, and then scored again at 11:35 off a pass from Knapp, cutting the Utica lead to one at 3-2.
The teams went back-and-forth after that, alternating goals until the end of the period. Scarpinella registered a hat trick on a free position goal at 9:07, but was answered by an impressive drive to the net from Knapp for her 30th of the season at 7:45. Addison Green assisted on Hailee DuMont's tally at 6:49 to bump the Utica lead back to two, and after an answer by Cassie Durkin (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville Dewitt) (via Pooler) at 5:07, Green scored herself at 4:51, taking a Scarpinella pass into the net for the 6-4 lead. 'Wick was able to respond yet again, as Amy Tracy (Smithtown, NY/Florida Southern College) scored from free position to make the score 6-5, where it stood at the break.
The second half was a little quieter, as far as scoring went. Palmer pushed the lead back to two via a free position shot at 25:33 to open the final thirty minutes' scoring. Pooler earned the hat trick off Katie Weaver's (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) first assist of the season at 18:42, but Utica answered instantly, as Palmer controlled the opening draw and scored just 17 seconds after Pooler's tally to make the score 8-6. Hartwick stuck with it, however. After three shots that were saved by Hali Vandermeulen and one that struck iron, Tracy converted while up a woman at 11:08, thanks in part to Jennifer Darasz's (Gorham, ME/Gorham) assist. Knapp finally got the Hawks level under a minute later at 10:16, taking advantage of a Utica foul for a free-position tally to knot the score at 8 apiece. After multiple shots by both sides in the interim, Jessie Biegel scored her 18th of the year at 5:52 off of a pass from Lexi Scaccia, giving the Pioneers the lead once again. Hartwick was still undeterred, retying the score at nine on a Tracy free position shot at 4:04. Utica had four shots in the final 2:53, but Jablonowski stood tall in net to force overtime.
The Pioneers controlled the ball for most of the six-minute first overtime period, but could not put anything past Jablonowski, who either stopped them or scared them into shooting wide. Tracy had a chance for her fourth of the day at 1:45, but was denied by Vandermeulen. Utica again grabbed possession in the second overtime, but could not convert on their first four shots, two of which were point-blank, and one of which hit the post. Palmer finally put an end to the wild affair at 3:04, finishing a free-position shot while on the woman advantage for the victory.
Pooler had the Hartwick point lead for the day, tying for the game high of four. She had three goals on four shots and an assist, scooping a ground ball as well. Tracy and Knapp each had three points; Tracy had a hat trick on five shots, while Knapp had two goals on a team-high six shots and an assist. Durkin, Darasz, and Weaver were the other 'Wick point-scorers, with one each. Darasz also had four ground balls, tying for the team high with Ashley Egerter (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point). Jablonowski, fresh off her third Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Week award, made an astounding 26 saves on 36 shots on goal (including many free position attempts), repeatedly keeping the Hawks in the game.
Utica doubled up Hartwick in the shot department, 52-24 (36-20 on goal). The Pioneers also had the advantage in ground balls (31-22), draw controls (17-6), and turnovers (17-25). The Hawks were 23-of-34 on clears, while the visitors cleared the ball 19 times out of 23.
Palmer and Scarpinella each had four points for Utica, which has now won 12 straight games against Hartwick. Palmer had four goals on a game-high 12 shots, also causing two turnovers, controlling two draws, and scooping a ground ball. Scarpinella was all over the place; she had three goals on seven shots and an assist while leading all comers with nine draw controls and seven ground balls. Green also had multiple points for the Pioneers, registering a goal and an assist.
Hartwick is on the road next time out, traveling to Alfred for their penultimate regular season conference game on Friday, April 19. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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