Photo by Kayleigh Strutevant

Utica University’s Women’s Lacrosse team has been a force in the Empire 8 for years now, but this couldn’t have been done without many key players. Grace and Maria Stuhlman have been integral parts of Utica’s successes for the past couple of seasons. 

Their season starts on Saturday, Feb. 22, on the road facing SUNY New Paltz.

Although Maria is only a sophomore, her freshman campaign made heads turn around the state, which won her the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Award. 

Grace, a seasoned veteran, battled through injuries which hindered her ability to play in her freshman season. However, her hard work paid off, because she took off in her sophomore season, and has continued to do so throughout her collegiate career. But before all of these successes, the Stuhlmans grew up five minutes away in a lacrosse hot-bed, Whitesboro, under head coach Ben Schoen as 4-year varsity athletes. 

They started playing the sport in first grade and fell in love with the game, continuing on to play in a local club, Tri-City, which was an easy way to get better without adding much pressure in their younger years. 

Once high school began, Schoen nurtured them to become some of the best players the Mohawk Valley had seen in a long time. Both of them agreed he cared a lot about the sport, but even more about his players.

“He developed my lacrosse IQ a lot, and he cares a lot about [his players] which definitely helped me get better,” Grace said. 

But the transition from high school sports to the Division III level was difficult. 

“The biggest thing for me was learning a new style, which is quicker, and just meeting new people in general… it helped that I had [Grace] to help me,” Maria added.

It was a little more challenging for Grace, as she was coming off of a costly injury that most would deter from sports because of.

“I tore my ACL for a second time in my senior season of lacrosse… that [freshman] season was mostly about getting back into the swing of things and gaining my confidence back,” Grace said.

However, she battled back, and in her sophomore and junior seasons, Gracie dominated all facets of the game, being the leading goal scorer with 108, overall points with 143, and draw controls with 201. She credits her success with remaining consistent in the gym and continuing to push herself.

In Maria’s first season at the collegiate level, she was the ground ball leader with 42, recorded 29 goals, and came second in assists with 22, only behind Utica Lacrosse legend Sam DeCondo, another Whiteboro alum. Maria is also a star cross country athlete and her agility and mobility sets her apart from other midfielders in the Empire 8.

“It definitely helps because I’m all over the field, and lacrosse helps my speed, so I think it works together well,” Maria said.

The Stuhlmans have been playing together for a long time, which gives them a leg up against any opponent. It’s clear when watching them play that there is something that most teammates can not say that they have.

“We have a connection that you can’t really get anywhere else. In practices and games, it’s more fun because you have your sister there the whole time,” Grace said.

Grace also pointed out that they both have things that they are better at, Maria being running, and Grace being in the weight room, so that balance is something that makes both of them better as overall athletes.

“She inspires me because she is so good. I can always lean on her for support and advice about anything,” Maria added.

Despite losing impactful players this season, the Stuhlmans expect a successful 2025 campaign. With an up and coming SUNY Brockport team being added to the Empire 8 and the consistently driven St. John Fisher program being a main competitor for Utica, it could be a tall task. However, that Stuhlman connection cannot be overlooked, as Utica looks to bring an Empire 8 Championship back to Utica.

Their season starts on Saturday, Feb. 22, on the road facing SUNY New Paltz.