SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The nationally third-ranked Cortland women's lacrosse team scored 12 of the final 13 goals in the game to erase a 5-2 deficit and went on to defeat Union, 14-6, in the season-opening game for both teams.

Senior Lindsay Abbott (South Onondaga/Onondaga Central) led the Red Dragons with eight points on four goals and four assists. Senior Erin Kollar (East Islip) recorded three goals and two assists, junior Gina Campese (East Syracuse/East Syracuse-Minoa) had two goals and two assists, junior Maria Di Fato (Camillus/West Genesee) scored twice and juniors Mary Hartzheim (Manlius/Fayetteville-Manlius) and Taylor Harney (Patchogue/Patchogue-Medford) and freshman Chelsea Martin (Ogdensburg/Ogdensburg Free Academy) each chipped in with a goal. Freshman Marilyn Farrell (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) collected two assists. Junior goalie Shauna Hutchinson (Islip Terrace/East Islip) made 12 saves.

Emily McGrail netted a pair of goals for the Dutchwomen, and Brittany Fraser recorded a goal and an assist. Heather Fraser, Hilary Salander and Tory Cameron tallied one goal apiece. Goalie Alexis Deeb stopped six shots in 52:06 before giving way to Allison Burtowicz, who regsitered one save in 7:54.

After Abbott gave Cortland a 1-0 lead just 1:57 into the game, the Dutchwomen scored five of the next six goals to grab a 5-2 lead with 16:45 remaining in the first half. The Red Dragons answered with six straight goals, including three from Abbott and two from Campese, to go ahead 8-5 at the 2:23 mark of the opening half. Heather Fraser cut the lead to 8-6 with a goal 57 seconds before intermission.

The game was all Red Dragons in the second half as Cortland outscored Union, 6-0. Di Fato sandwiched goals around a pair of scores by Kollar to make it a 12-6 game before Harney and Martin capped off the scoring with goals in the closing minutes. 

Cortland 14, Union 6

Team                  1-2      Final
Cortland (1-0)      8-6      14
Union (0-1)          6-0       6

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Lindsay Abbott 4-4, Erin Kollar 3-2, Gina Campese 2-2, Maria Di Fato 2-0, Taylor Harney 1-0, Mary Hartzheim 1-0, Chelsea Martin 1-0, Marilyn Farrell 0-2 
Union: Emily McGrail 2-0, Brittany Fraser 1-1, Heather Fraser 1-0, Hilary Salander 1-0, Tory Cameron 1-0, Kim Seckler 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Cortland: Shauna Hutchinson, 12 saves (6 GA in 60:00)
Union: Alexis Deeb, 6 saves (12 GA in 52:06), Allison Burtowicz, 1 save (2 GA in 7:54)

Shots: Cortland 24, Union 20
Ground Balls: Union 22, Cortland 16
Clears: Cortland 9-of-15, Union 5-of-8
Draw Controls: Union 15, Cortland 7
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 6, Union 4
Turnovers: Union 17, Cortland 13
Fouls: Cortland 25, Union 14

Records after the game: Cortland (Red Dragons)1-0 (ranked 3rd nationally in Div. III), Union (Dutchwomen) 0-1