PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's lacrosse team battled throughout a defensive, low-scoring contest but ultimately fell 10-4 to Utica in non-conference action at home on Friday evening. Junior midfielder Abby Guasconi (Ogdensburg, N.Y. / Ogdensburg Free Academy) paced the Cardinals with two goals and three draw controls.

Senior attacker Cynthia Barnosky (Shirley, N.Y. / William Floyd) and junior attacker Ellie Macdonald (Burlington, Vt. / Burlington) scored a goal each, while Barnosky also scooped up three ground balls. Senior attacker Erica Dickinson (Yaphank, N.Y. / Bellport) and sophomore attacker Ashley O'Hara (Chittenango, N.Y. / The Hill School) both tallied an assist. First-year goalie Aimee Lieman (Fair Lawn, N.J. / Fair Lawn) made nine saves in 60 minutes of action, taking the loss in net.

For the Pioneers, Jessica Marciano led all players in points with four on three goals and an assist. Alyssa Specchio controlled six draws and added two goals and an assist for three points. Makayla Purdy made five saves in 60 minutes of action, earning the win in net.

Utica held advantages in shots (27-15), ground balls (19-14), and draw controls (11-5), but the Cardinals made the most of their chances. Plattsburgh converted on its lone free-position attempt, finishing a perfect 1-for-1, while limiting the Pioneers to three goals on six free-position opportunities. The Cardinals were also solid in transition, successfully clearing 11 of 17 attempts in a competitive effort.

The Pioneers opened the scoring with the game's first two goals, but Plattsburgh responded with poise. At the 9:48 mark of the first quarter, Barnosky ignited the Cardinals' offense, beating her defender on a strong crease roll to cut the deficit to 2-1. Utica answered with back-to-back tallies to extend its lead, but Plattsburgh refused to let the momentum slip. Gausconi halted the run with a key goal at the 5:16 mark, as Plattsburgh went into the second quarter trailing 5-2.

The Cardinals were unable to find the back of the net in the second quarter, but their defense stepped up, allowing just two goals in the period. The strong defensive stand kept the game manageable, with the Cardinals heading into the break trailing 7-2.

Out of the halftime break, the Cardinals came out energized and snapped the scoring drought. Gausconi capitalized on a well-placed pass from Dickinson, with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter, for her second goal of the game. The Pioneers capped off the scoring with a late goal that extended their lead to 8-3 after three quarters of play.

Macdonald opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, finishing a perfectly timed feed from O'Hara, who threaded a pass to her on the cut with 7:25 to go. However, the Cardinal offense was unable to generate additional momentum down the stretch. Utica added two late tallies to close out the scoring, as Plattsburgh dropped a 10-4 decision in a hard-fought, defensive battle.

With the loss, Plattsburgh State moves to 1-1 on the season and will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Mar. 4, when the Cardinals travel to face VTSU-Castleton for a 4 p.m. opening draw control.