The Utica College women's field hockey team defeated Hamilton College 2-1 Saturday in the 2008 home opener for the Pioneers.

After nearly 19 minutes into the contest, junior Elizabeth Knudsen (Rome Free Academy/Rome) beat Hamilton goalkeeper Courtney DeMaria (Groton/Littleton, MA) on the right side to put the Pioneers up 1-0. The unassisted goal was the first of the season for Knudsen.

Hamilton tallied five shots on goal while Utica senior goalie Amanda McDonnell (Portsmouth Abby/Sagamore Beach, MA) racked up five saves as the Pioneers remained in control and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at half. 

Sophmore Carley Andrascik (Shenendehowa/Clifton Park) received a pass from Colleen Callaghan (Glens Falls/Queensbury) and finished the one-timer with 27:14 left to play in the second to knot the game up at 1-1. It was Andrascik's first goal of the year and fifth of her career.

Utica quickly responded with a goal four minutes later, breaking the tie. Sarah Keller (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown, PA) followed up her own rebound to put the Pioneers up 2-1. The Pioneers used ball control and solid defense to blank the Continentals for the final 25 minutes of the contest as they won their second straight contest.

McDonnell finished with 12 saves while only allowing one goal during the win. Utica improves to 2-3 this season while Hamilton now sits at 0-1 after the losing effort.

The Pioneers had previously outscored the Continentals 13 - 3 over the past three seasons. Utica last defeated Hamilton 5-2 at the Campus Road Athletic Field on September 5, 2007.

The Pioneers will next travel to the University of Rochester on Saturday, September 13 to square off against the Yellow Jackets at 7 p.m.


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