(Utica, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse team overcame a slow start to race past SUNYIT 17-8 Wednesday afternoon in Utica.

The Roos improved to 3-3 overall, as they’ve won three out of their last four games. Wednesday’s scoring output was a season-high for SUNY Canton, who dominated the Wildcats in shots (41-15) and ground balls (26-12).

SUNYIT got off to a fast start opening a 3-0 lead over the first five minutes of the game. But the trio of sophomore Tressa Goolden (Canton, N.Y.) and freshmen Keeley Rice (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Megan Poupore (Massena, N.Y.) got the Roos back on track as they combined to score the next four goals, as Poupore scored twice bookending goals by Rice and Goolden to push the Roos ahead 4-3. The Wildcats got one back and tied the game 4-4 with 5:18 remaining in the half, but the trio came up big again as Poupore scored from junior Brooke Knight (Madrid, N.Y.), Goolden tossed in two goals off assists from Poupore and Rice, and Rice scored unassisted with 10 seconds left giving SUNY Canton an 8-4 lead at halftime.

The Roos reeled off four straight goals from freshman Robyn Carroll (Bowmanville, Ontario), Rice, Knight, and Goolden over the first seven minutes of the second half to stretch their advantage to 12-4. SUNYIT stopped the run with a goal with 18:58 left in regulation, but SUNY Canton responded again with three straight scores to lead 15-5 with 10:18 on the clock. Sophomore Devyn Hutcheson (Oswego, N.Y.) scored the Roos final two goals a minute apart late in the half for the final score.

Rice finished with four goals and three assists for her second seven-point game in the last three contests. Goolden fired in four goals with one assist. Poupore netted three goals and had two assists. Knight ended the day with two goals and two assists, and senior Brittani Bessette (Canton, N.Y.) contributed a goal and an assist.

Freshman Kelsey Murray (West Monroe, N.Y.) scooped up a team-high four ground balls. Knight, Goolden, and junior Caty Darling (Oswego, N.Y.) added three ground balls apiece, and freshman Alyssa Altschuler (Cheshire, Conn.) made six saves in goal to earn the victory.

Laura Tolbert scored four goals to lead SUNYIT. Jenn a Lashua added two goals and Aubrey Campbell made 16 saves.

The Roos return home this Friday to face Morrisville State College at 4 p.m. in Canton.