The Utica College field hockey team lost a thrilling
3-2 match up Wednesday night at host Union College. The game was decided with one second left in regulation when Lizzy Moran connected with Kelsey Powers off a penalty corner for her third goal of the season to lift the Dutchwomen past the Pioneers.
Utica has now lost two straight and dropped to 2-5 overall on the year, while Union remains undefeated and improves to 3-0.
Although Union out shot Utica 27-9 on the day the game was still remarkably close, as the Pioneers took advantage of great goal keeping by senior captain
Amanda McDonnell (Portsmouth Abby/Sagamore Beach, MA) and timely scoring by sophomore leading scorer
Hayley Coon (Camden/Taberg) and former Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year
Katie Kutas (New York Mills/New York Mills). McDonnell registered 17 saves on the day.
The Pioneers took an early 1-0 lead behind Coon's third goal of the season, unassisted, at the 21:19 mark. Coon scored from six yards out after a saved shot by Union goalie Sarah Rios.
Union answered back 6:30 later when Anne Hanson rifled home a rebound shot from five yards out past McDonnell to knot the contest up at 1-1 at the 27:49 mark.
Union took a 2-1 lead when Powers netted her first of two goals on the day just under 15 minutes into the second half off a penalty corner. McDonnell was able to deflect the original shot, but Powers picked it up from four yards out and found the back of the cage for her second tally of the season.
Kutas tied the game at 2-2 with just less than eight minutes left in the game when she ripped a shot past Union's substitute goalie Liz Stanford. Kutas' 36th career goal came from the right side and she snapped a shot to the far opposite inside post.
The Pioneers could not hold on though and lost a devastating 3-2 contest with just one second left on the clock. Union earned a 17-5 penalty corner advantage on the day.
UC returns to action Sunday when they host Elmira College at 1 p.m. on the turf at Charles. A Gaetano Stadium as a part of the College's homecoming festivities.
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