SCHENECTADY, NY -- In a matchup of two of the top 13 teams in the national IWLCA Division III poll, playing their season openers, the 13th ranked Union College women's lacrosse team defeated #12 SUNY Cortland, 9-8 at Frank Bailey Field Sunday. Freshman attack Kristin Joyce (Longmeadow, MA) scored four goals in her debut for the Dutchwomen.
Another Union freshman, midfielder Chelsea Charette (South Hadley, MA), scored two goals and the Dutchwomen got single tallies from Liz Zamore (South Hero, VT), Keri Messa (Saratoga Springs, NY) and Caitlin Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA). Messa had two assists and Zamore, Cuozzo and Keelin Skurek (Massillon, NY) added one each.
Cortland was led by sophomore midfielder Jessie Fritz (Baldwinsville, NY), who scored four goals on the day. The Red Dragons got single scores from Elizabeth Acee (Syracuse, NY), Rachel Cornwell (Fairport, NY), Beth Elmer (Syracuse, NY) and Bree Smith (Syracuse, NY).
Union goaltender Cat Ruggiero (Huntington, NY) made 11 saves in her first career appearance and start. Deanne Abell (Fulton, NY) stopped 10 shots for Cortland.
Trailing 9-6 after a Zamore goal with 9:58 left in the second half, the Red Dragons got closer with the third of the day from Fritz on a free position goal with 7:45 remaining. She tallied an unassisted goal with 3:57 left to pull Cortland to within one at 9-8. Union had a turnover with 1:08 left but Zamore forced a Red Dragon turnover with 48 seconds remaining. The Red Dragons had one more opportunty when Casey Costello (Manlius, NY) forced a turnover with eight seconds remaining, but the guests could not get a shot off in the final seconds.
Elmer opened the scoring 4:10 into the contest, and Union took the lead after goals by Joynce and Charette in the next two minutes. After Smith tallied at 21:33 of the first to tie it at 2-2, the Dutchwomen scored five straight goals for a 7-2 lead, and it was 7-3 Union at the half.
Each team had 25 shots, and Cortland had a 20-18 ground ball advantage. Each team scored three times on free position opportunities and Union won 12 of 19 draw controls.
The Dutchwomen will return to action on March 23 vs. Wiliams in Ft. Myers, FL.
Box score
