Freshman forward Christine Franz's (West Windsor-Plainsboro/Plainsboro) first collegiate goal came 5:08 into the first overtime and lifted the Ithaca College field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Empire 8 Conference rival Utica College at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Sunday.

The Bombers picked up their first win of the season and are now 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8, while the Pioneers dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the E8. Utica is 2-4 against Ithaca in their last six meetings, including a 2-1 loss at Ithaca in 2006.

Both teams played excellent defense through seventy minutes forcing overtime. In the 75th minute junior forward Elyse Green (Shawnee/Medford, NJ) made a beautiful crossing pass to the middle of the goalie circle where Franz was set up for a shot. Franz ripped a shot that was saved by UC goalie Amanda McDonnell (Portsmouth Abby/Sagamore Beach, MA), but she followed her own shot and chipped over McDonnell for the game-winner.

McDonnell closed out the day with a career-high 13 saves, while Ithaca goalies Chelsea Welsh (Scotia-Glenville/Scotia) and Courtney Dowell (Massapequa/Massapequa) combined for seven saves in 40:08 and 35:00 minutes of work respectively. Welsh was credited with the victory for the Bombers.

Freshman Tiffany Bichrest (Hebron/Harpswell, ME) took a team-high four shots on net for UC, while sophomore Elizabeth Knudsen (Rome Free Academy/Rome) and reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year Katie Kutas (New York Mills/New York Mills) combined for three.

Ithaca earned a 9-7 penalty corner advantage and also out shot Utica 14-11.

UC returns to action Wednesday against visiting Union College at 4:00 p.m. on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Ithaca travels to Scranton for a non-conference game on Wednesday scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
                                    (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) #