Utica pushed across a late goal at the end of regulation and then won it with under 4:00 minutes left in double overtime as the Pioneers edged Hartwick 2-1 in Empire 8 field hockey action, Wednesday evening at Wright Stadium.

Trailing 1-0, Katie Kutas found an open net off a feed from Elizabeth Knudsen with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime, Tiffany Bichrest ended the game with 3:23 remaining to even Utica's record at 8-8 and give the Pioneers their first league victory of 2007. Hartwick fell to 7-9 and 3-3 in league action.

Hartwick took the lead at 50:38 on the sixth goal of the year by Samantha Galm (Kingston, N.Y.).

Utica goalie Amanda McDonnell withstood a barrage of shots en route to posting 30 saves in the victory. The junior had 13 saves in the first half, and six more in the second overtime period. Hartwick's Katie Thorpe (South Windsor, Conn) had eight saves in the loss. The Hawks held a 38-12 advantage in the shot department.

Hartwick will hold its final regular-season game of the year, Sunday as it hosts Rochester. The contest at Wright Stadium will start at noon. In the mean time, the Hawks will also have their eyes on the outcomes of a few remaining league games to see if they will qualify for the Empire 8 Championships.

                                     (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) #