UTICA, NY -- Senior attack Alanna Fallone (Penfield, NY/Penfield) tallied a career-high eight goals as the RIT (1-0) women's lacrosse team began the 2021 season with a 17-9 win at Utica College (0-1) Wednesday afternoon.

Shots were 40-26 in favor of RIT. Each team grabbed 18 ground balls, and the Tigers won 17-of-28 draw controls. RIT was 12-of-13 on clearing attempts and went 2-for-6 on free position tries.

Fallone led the Tigers with eight goals, while senior attack Olivia Africa (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) finished with three goals and three assists. Senior Skylar Burlee (Churchville, NY/Churhcville-Chili) record three assists and four points, while junior McKenna Joint (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) tallied two goals and an assist. Senior Steph Darrell (East Norhtport, NY/St. Anthony's) chipped in a goal and two assists, and Rose Core (Syosset, NY/St. Anthony's) and Baylee West (Hummelstown, PA/Hershey) each scored for the Tigers.

Joint led RIT with six caused turnovers and five ground balls, while first-year Rachel Border (Westminster, MD/Westminster) led the Tigers with six draw controls. Senior goalie Paulina Goodermote (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) picked up the win in net for the Tigers, making 12 saves.

Lexi Scaccia led Utica with three goals and four points, while Samantha DeCondo and Stephanie Husnay each tallied two goals. Claire Frier took the loss in net for the Pioneers, making 17 saves.

Trailing 1-0 early in the first half, Fallone scored three straight goals for the Tigers, taking a 3-1 lead on her third with 24:53 remaining off an assist from Burlee. After a Pioneers goal cut the RIT lead to 3-2, the Tigers rattled off three straight, extending the lead to 6-2 on Africa's goal with 14:26 to play. Scaccia and Lauren Wolff tallied late goals for Utica to cut the RIT lead to 7-4 at halftime.

Utica pulled to within 8-5 on a Scaccia goal early in the second half. The Tigers ran off five straight goals, taking a 13-5 lead on Fallone's seventh goal of the game with 19:23 remaining in regulation. Africa extended the RIT lead to 16-7 on her goal with 15:48 to play, and West scored a late goal to make it a 17-9 final.

RIT is scheduled to play at SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, March 13 at 12 p.m.