The Utica College field hockey team held a 1-0 lead for over 54 minutes but nationally-ranked No. 18 Stevens Institute of Technology tallied two goals in the final 13:22 to earn a 2-1 victory over the Pioneers in Empire 8 Conference action Sunday.

The contest was tabbed as a battle of unbeatens in conference play and with the win the Ducks now sit in pole position of the E8. Stevens improved to 12-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, while UC drops to 6-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Stevens improved to 3-0 all-time against UC, with the Ducks winning by just one goal in all three games. Sunday's contest was reminiscent of their 2006 match up when UC took a 1-0 lead in the first half but surrendered two unanswered goals as Stevens earned a 2-1 victory on Nov. 4, 2006 in Hoboken, NJ.

UC sophomore defender Lucy Papia (Williamsville North/Williamsville) redirected junior Elizabeth Knudsen's (Rome/Rome) initial shot on goal just 2:13 into the contest and Stephanie Smith (Hockessin, Del./Sanford) could not get a pad on the tipped shot as the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead. Papia's first collegiate goal was also the first shot of the contest.

Two-time Empire 8 Goalie of the Week Amanda McDonnell (Portsmouth Abby/Sagamore Beach, MA) played lights out for the next 54 minutes as she fended off 15 penalty corners. Time of possession was certainly in favor of the Ducks but the Pioneer's displayed a staunch defense until the 56:38 mark when conference leading scorer Kara Borzillo (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) knocked home her 17th goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1. McDonnell made the initial save but Borzillo was in the right place at the right time and lifted the rebound into the upper half of the goal.

Exactly eight minutes later Allison Shields (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) knocked in a controversial game-winning goal. Shields received a penalty corner pass at the top of the arc from Erin Broderick (East Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) and dished it off to Jessica Ablonczy (Shady Side, MD/Southern Senior). Ablonczy then gave it right back to Shields who sent a wrist shot at the cross bar above McDonnell's head. The ball ricocheted off the cross bar and straight down. After deliberation the referee's decided that the ball had crossed the goal line and the Ducks were awarded a 2-1 lead.

UC failed to convert on a few late scoring opportunities as Stevens heads back to Hoboken, NJ riding the highs of a three game winning streak.

The Ducks out shot UC 19-5 on the day and also earned a 17-3 penalty corner advantage, including 11 in the first half alone. McDonnell recorded a game-high 12 saves while her counterpart Stephanie Smith made three saves in 70 minutes of work.
The Pioneers snapped a four game winning streak with the loss and they return to action Wednesday against visiting RPI on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The non-conference contest is set to begin at 5 p.m. and live video will be available at www.empire8.tv. Live stats for the contest will also be available at www.ucpioneers.com.

Stevens will host No. 19 William Patterson University Wednesday on the turf at DeBaun Field. Live video of the contest will be available at www.empire8.tv.

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