Utica, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) – The Nazareth women's lacrosse team traveled to Utica to take on their conference foes in the Pioneers on Saturday, falling by a score of 13-7. The Golden Flyers fall to 0-9 on the season, while Utica improves to 5-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nazareth wasted no time assuming control of the game, striking just 45 seconds in courtesy of leading scorer Grace Gardner. Utica would carry play for a few minutes before defender Maria DeLorenzo found the back of the net to double the Golden Flyer lead with her first collegiate goal. Two minutes later, goalkeeper Allie Klestinec made her fourth save of the game and 572nd of her career to tie the school record. She went on to break it in the final minutes of the first quarter, claiming the record as her own. Utica managed to get on the board twice between these two historic saves, but Nazareth regained their lead with 3 minutes remaining in the quarter, closing it out 3-2.
• The Pioneers were on the offensive early in the second quarter, but it was Nazareth who broke through again to extend their lead to 4-2 five minutes in. The two squads went on to trade blows in back-and-forth fashion for the remainder of the half, with the Golden Flyers entering halftime with a 5-4 lead.
• Nazareth continued to string together hot starts, scoring just 21 seconds into the second half and again just 35 seconds later from a free position shot to take a commanding 7-4 lead. Both goals were scored by Gardner, who contributed on 5 of her team's 7 goals. The rest of the third quarter saw balanced play, with both teams generating chances, but Utica managed to capitalize three times to claw their way back to a tie game entering the fourth and final quarter.
• After playing a strong, hard-fought three quarters, the Golden Flyers appeared to run out of gas in the final frame. They conceded a goal just 48 seconds in before allowing 5 more without an answer. The Pioneer's 9 unanswered goals to end the game were enough to earn them a 13-7 victory over Nazareth.

 
GAME NOTES

• Senior goalkeeper Allie Klestinec etched her name in the Nazareth University record books, surpassing the 572 career saves mark and claiming sole possession of the women's lacrosse record for most career saves
• Klestinec has a stellar game on top of her achievement, making 11 saves and sporting a .458 save percentage
• Senior Grace Gardner scored 4 goals and added an assist
• Senior defender Maria DeLorenzo scored her first career collegiate goal. She also recorded 2 assists and took 6 shots
• Junior Megan Martin scored her 11th goal of the season
• Junior Gwen Newtown scored her 5th goal of the campaign
• Senior Emma Bossard caused 3 turnovers, leading her team defensively
• Freshman Briana Panko added 2 caused turnovers of her own

 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Golden Flyers will return home on Wednesday, April 1st to take on the SUNY Poly Wildcats at NLPA Field. The Empire 8 conference matchup is set to begin at 4pm, as Nazareth will continue to search for their first win of the season.
 
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