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UTICA, N.Y. -- Freshman
Emma Robinson scored four goals and senior goalie
Brianna Rizzari had 15 saves to go over 500 for her career as visiting Nazareth outscored Utica Saturday in Empire 8 women's lacrosse action, 14-11.
The victory enabled Nazareth to snap a six-game Utica winning streak and dropped the Pioneers to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Nazareth improved to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the E8.
Rizzari, a four-year starter for the Golden Flyers, became the third Nazareth goalie to exceed 500 career saves. She needed eight coming into the game and now has 507 for her career behind only Teryn Wineburg (572 saves) and Tara Prosak (517). Seven of Rizzari's saves came on Utica free-position attempts as she stymied the Pioneers repeatedly from point-blank range. Utica scored just two free-position goals in 13 attempts. She raised her season save percentage to .574 with 109 saves through nine games.
Robinson, meanwhile, leads the Golden Flyers with 23 goals.
Addilys Geitner,
Emily Allen and
Kellie Byrne each scored two goals and Lily Aldroich had three assists.
Vicki Arena had five draw controls.
The game was close throughout, but Nazareth created some separation with a five-goal flurry midway through the second half that broke a 9-9 tie and enabled Nazareth to take the lead for good at 14-9. Geitner's free-position goal with 4:26 left capped the scoring run and rendered meaningless Utica's final two goals of the game.
Nazareth led 6-5 at the half with Robinson scoring twice, including a goal with 1:38 eft to break a 5-5 tie.
The teams exchanged scores through the first 15 minutes of the second half until Allen's second goal of the game triggered the five-goal scoring run. Free-position goals by
Lauren Caldwell and Robinson followed and Aldrich gained an assist on a goal by
Callahan Lyon that made the score 13-9 with 5:40 to go. Geitner's free-position goal made it 14-9 with 4:26 left.
In winning, Nazareth was able to overcome Utica statistical advantages in shots (35-28), ground balls (25-21) and draw controls (16-11). Katlyn Scarpinella had four goals and two assists for Utica.
Nazareth is back in action Tuesday for a non-conference game at Cortland at 4 p.m.
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