The Utica College field hockey team lost its second straight heart breaker Sunday afternoon, 2-1 in penalty strokes, against Alvernia College at the Oneonta Invitational.

With the loss, UC drops to 0-2 overall after falling to St. Lawrence 3-2 in the season-opener Saturday. UC out shot Alvernia 10-7 through four periods of action which included two scoreless overtime stanzas. Alvernia posted a 10-8 penalty corner advantage, including one in the fifth minute of the contest that resulted in a Janelle Lynch goal to give the Crusaders and early 1-0 lead.

Just under eight minutes later the Pioneers answered when sophomore Hayley Coon (Camden/Taberg) netted her second goal of the season, unassisted, to knot the game up at 1-1. Neither team could muster another goal over the course of the final 47:04 of regulation, and the game was sent to overtime with the score tied at 1-1.

UC out shot the Crusaders 2-1 in the opening overtime period but Kori Gerber remained solid in net to force a second overtime period. UC senior goalie and captain Amanda McDonnell (Portsmouth Abby/Sagamore Beach , MA) shined in the second overtime, fending off three shots and four penalty corner's as the game was then sent to penalty strokes.

Both teams netted 3-of-5 penalty strokes in the opening frame. Sophomore Erin Murphy (Mt. Markham/West Winfield), sophomore Jessica Ahearn (Bangor/Bangor, PA) and junior captain Theresa Staring (Little Falls/Little Falls) each found the back of the net for the Pioneers to send the contest to a second set of penalty strokes. In the second set UC missed all four opportunities and Mary Vankirk and Ashley Tatangelo each knocked home a penalty stroke to lift the Crusaders.

UC returns to action Wednesday when they travel to Brockport State to take on the Golden Eagles at 5 p.m. UC defeated Brockport 2-1 last season.

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