Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Skidmore College women's lacrosse team battled back before falling, 11-7 to Utica College, Wednesday at Wachenheim field.

The Thoroughbreds move to 0-2 on the young season, while the Pioneers improve to 2-0.

Lexi Melville led the Skidmore charge, scoring three goals on four shots. The senior has produced 10 goals this season in two games.  Emma Harris contributed two goals and two draw controls for the Thoroughbreds, while Spencer Morgan added two points of her own on a goal and an assist to go along with four draws.  Peggy Healy helped spark a second half rally with two assists, while Brittney Dioneda netted one goal.

Utica was paced by Courtney Wheeler's four points (three goals, one assist) and Megan Kane tallied a hat trick in the win. 

Utica was first to score when Patricia Kane received a pass from Samantha Gebler, to put the pioneers up 1-0. Less than two minutes later, Wheeler snuck one past Skidmore goalie Shelby Witheford for Utica's second goal. The Thoroughbreds gained possession of the ensuing draw control and quickly earned the free position after a Utica foul.  Skidmore capitalized when Harris fired one past Utica goal minder Stephanie Belanger to cut the Utica lead in half at 2-1.

Utica would score its third goal at the 21:30 mark of the first half, but Skidmore would quickly answer when Melville converted on the free position, cutting the deficit to a single goal.

Utica's offense produced four unanswered goals, before Harris connected on her second goal to end Skidmore's scoreless drought. 

When the horn sounded signaling the end of the first period, Utica held a 7-3 advantage.

As the second frame got underway, Skidmore controlled the tempo, winning the draw control and asserting itself in the offensive end. The Thoroughbreds fired three consecutive shots at Belanger, but the Utica goalie turned away each.  Belanger found a streaking Megan Kane who drove the length of the field and riffled one home, extending Utica's lead to 8-3 with 24:49 remaining in the game.

Despite giving up the goal, the Thoroughbreds buckled down on the defensive end, holding Utica to a single shot over the first 17 minutes of action in the second half, allowing Skidmore the opportunity to cut into the Utica lead.

Down four goals, the Thoroughbreds went on the attack, scoring three unanswered goals.  Spencer Morgan started the Skidmore rally with a free position goal at 23:04.  Three minutes later, Skidmore was at it again when Healy found a cutting Melville who netted Skidmore's fifth goal. 

Skidmore's defense came up big again when Anna Gubbins forced Gebler to turn the ball over.  Gubbins scooped up the groundball and Skidmore's offense did the rest.  Melville drew the Utica foul and on the ensuing free position, tallied her third goal of the afternoon, bringing Skidmore within two goals in the process, but that was as close as the Thoroughbreds would get.  Utica rallied, scoring four unanswered goals to close out the game.

The Pioneers accounted for 23 shots, while Skidmore produced 20.  Belanger came up big in the win with seven saves.  Witheford did her part in net as well, amassing five saves for Skidmore.

Skidmore will head south to Orlando, Fla. for a pair of non-conference games against Denison March 12 and Wheaton College March 15.