UTICA, NY - The Utica College field hockey team (6-3, 3-0 E8) netted two unanswered second half goals as they defeated Nazareth College (6-3, 1-1 E8) 2-0 in Empire 8 Conference play on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Sunday. Senior Shannon Moats (Vernon, NY) and junior Lindsey Jester (Holland Pattent, NY) each netted two goals in the contest while Rebecca Corsones (Hurley, NY) added two assists. The Pioneers have now won four in a row and became the first team in the conference to win three games this season.
Utica has defeated Nazareth in four of their last five meetings against, outscoring the Golden Flyers by a tally of 14-6, dating back to 2005.
UC jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind two goals from senior defender Shannon Moats. Moats gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead after deflecting Lindsey Jester's initial shot off a penalty corner just 1:59 into the contest. She gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead after a scramble in front of the net resulted in Hayley Coon (Taberg, NY) connecting with Moats on the far post for her third goal of the season.
Nazareth responded with two goals before halftime to knot the score at 2-2 after the first 35 minutes of play.
Lindsey Jester's two second half goals lifted the Pioneers to victory. Her first goal at 41:45 came after Corsones sent a crossing pass to Jester and she ripped a shot from ten yards out into the lower left corner of the cage. She added an insurance goal in the 66th minute after a shot from outside the crease was tipped by Corsones and finished by Jester.
Five points in a single game doubles Jester's career total and she now has ten points over the course of three seasons.
Kelsey Evans made nine saves in net for Nazareth while Monica Storms (Owego, NY) added one save for Utica in her sixth win of the season.
Utica out shot Naz 18-4 on the day and took advantage of 14 penalty corners compared to just two for the Golden Flyers.
The Pioneers return to action Wednesday when they sqaure off against visiting Brockport State at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at www.ucpioneers.com.
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