ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT (1-0) women's lacrosse team began 2015 in style, defeating SUNY Oswego (1-1), 11-9 on cold and blustery Tuesday afternoon at RIT's Turf Field. With the win, the Tigers improve to 4-3 all time versus SUNY Oswego.

"I am very happy with the outcome today," said RIT head coach Jeff McGuigan. "Today was a good opportunity to see where we are at as a team. We have some work to do, but I am very happy with the quality and talent we have to work with."
 
Sage Sarkis (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) led RIT with four goals, while Corrina Mandell (Corning, NY/Corning East) added three markers. Sydney DaCosta (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) scored, while newcomers Amanda Olsen (Glen Mills, PA/Archmere Academy), Sammy Ward (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) and Maegen Schmauder each tallied their first collegiate goals. Olsen finished with a goal and two assists.

Shots were 26-15 in favor of Oswego. The Tigers grabbed 17 ground balls to 19 for the Lakers. The Lakers won 17-of-22 draws, while RIT was 14-of-18 on clearing attempts. Senior goalie, Caitlin Conway (Landisville, PA/Hempfield) picked up her first win of the season for the Tigers, making 11 saves.

RIT jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the first half on a pair of goals Sarkis. Both were unassisted goals on nice drives to the net, giving the Tigers an early lead.

Oswego answered with three straight goals, taking a 3-2 lead on Erannan Shattuck's goal at the 19:46 mark of the first half. Briana Kimble and Mackenzie Kjerstad each had goals for the Lakers in the run.

The Tigers closed out the first half tallying four straight goals, taking a 6-3 lead into halftime. Sarkis began the run on her third goal of the half off a feed from Olsen at 18:16. Schmauder made it 4-3 RIT on her first collegiate goal at 15:25, DaCosta and Mandell each converted free position attempts late in the half to extend the Tigers lead.

Oswego opened the second half tallying three straight goals, tying the score at 6-6 on Kjerstad's goal at the 23:39 mark of the half. Esther Gabriel opened the second half scoring with her goal off a feed from Kjerstad. Shattuck made it 6-5 RIT on her second goal of the contest at 24:09.

Sarkis took the momentum back for RIT, tallying her fourth of the game at 19:45 of the second half, giving RIT a 7-6 lead. Ward and Olsen each netted free position goals, extending RIT's lead to 9-6 on Olsen's tally with 16:53 to play.

Kimble made it 9-7 RIT on her second goal of the game at 15:32 of the half. Two straight goals from Mandell extended the Tigers lead to 11-7. Lange tallied two late goals for Oswego making it an 11-9 final.

The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, March 11 when the Tigers face No. 11 SUNY Geneseo at the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University at 3:30 p.m.