Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women's Lacrosse team led 5-2 at halftime, but Utica came roaring back in the second half to prevail 7-6 Sunday afternoon at Campus Field. The win improves the Pioneers to 8-5 overall and 3-3 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 7-7 overall and 1-5 in conference competition.
 
Utica scored first 90 seconds into the contest but EC responded with four straight goals en route to taking a commanding 5-2 lead into intermission. Five different players scored for Elmira in the opening half as they controlled ground balls (24-14), shots (11-7) and scored on three of their five free position attempts.
 
EC extended its lead to 6-2 with a quick Jordan Donegan '12 (Syracuse, NY -- Corcoran) goal just over one minute into the second half. However, this would be the last goal the Purple and Gold would score on the day as a tough Pioneer defense held Elmira scoreless over the final 28 minutes. Utica drew even at 6-6 with just less than 12 minutes to play when Megan Kane found the back of the net on an unassisted goal. Katlyn Banker scored the game-winner and her third goal of the game with 53 seconds left off a free position shot. The Soaring Eagles were unable to take advantage of two extra attacker advantages in the final five minutes of play as Utica gutted out the 7-6 victory.
 
The Pioneers held a distinctive 15-5 shot advantage in the second half controlling a majority of the possession time. A gritty Utica defense made it tough for the Elmira transition game as EC converted just 50 percent of its clear attempts in the second half. Where the Purple and Gold were successful in the first half, they went 0-for-3 on free position opportunities in the final 30 minutes.
 
Donegan led the EC attack with two goals, while Marki Michaels '13 (Manchester, NY -- Midlakes) and Lindsay Mitchell '12 (Arnold, MD -- Arnold) each tallied a goal and an assist. Mary Kate Gellerman '13 (Frederick, MD -- Urbana) played big in net for Elmira making nine saves, while Shelby Barbay stopped six shots between the pipes for Utica.
 
The EC Women's Lacrosse team returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Western New York to take on Fredonia State at 4:00 p.m.