Box Score

Hoboken, N.J. (11/6/2010) – The Utica College field hockey team rallied from a two goal deficit to tie the game with just over 13 minutes to go but second seeded Washington & Jefferson netted the game-winner in the 60th minute to earn a 3-2 victory in the Empire 8 Conference Championship semi-final game Saturday. W & J will take on top-seeded Stevens in the finals for the third consecutive season on Sunday.

Utica, which advanced to the tournament for the first time since its inception in 2007, closes out its 2010 campaign with an 8-10 overall mark. The Presidents, who defeated the Pioneers for the second straight game, improved to 14-3 overall on the year.

Saturday's semi-final contest was extremely tight across the board with the Pioneers earning a 17-16 shot advantage and a 10-7 penalty corner advantage. Junior goalie Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego) stopped eight shots in the loss.

Wash & Jeff opened up a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the contest behind two goals from Kim Marcius.

Utica answered with two straight goals to knot the score at 2-2 in the 56th minute. Junior Jessica Ahearn (Bangor, PA/Bangor) opened the scoring for Utica in 21st minute off a penalty corner when she knocked home a rebound to cut the President's lead in half.

Senior Lindsey Jester (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) tied the game up at 2-2 when she re-directed a Sarah Keller (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown) shot into the back of the cage to put the Pioneers right back in the game. Unfortunately for the Pioneer faithful the Presidents answered just over three minutes later with the game-winning goal to seal the victory.

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