BOX SCORE

The Utica College women's soccer team lost to visiting Ithaca College, 6-0, in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams Wednesday afternoon on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Sophomore Rachel Palladino netted a game-high four goals, while freshman Jackie Rodabaugh added three assists to pace the Bombers.

The Pioneers, who defeated Ithaca 2-1 in 2008, dropped to 1-4 on the year, while the Bombers improved to 4-1. Ithaca now owns a 10-2-1 all-time series advantage over Utica.

Palladino netted a hat-trick in the first half to kick start the Bombers afternoon. She tallied her first goal after a lead pass from Rodabaugh set Palladino up for her sixth goal of the season into the lower left corner of the net just 2:32 into the contest. Palladino continued to pour on the offense in the 15th minute when she tallied her team-high seventh goal of the season after a tip pass from junior Megan Trager led to a breakaway goal past UC net minder Jocelyn Rivera (Yonkers, NY /Gorton). Palladino headed home her third tally of the afternoon, after a perfect corner kick into the box from Julie Winn, to give the Bombers a commanding 3-0 lead in the 21st minute.

Caroline Jastremski closed out the first half scoring with her first tally of the season off a lead pass from Rodabaugh which led to a goal in the lower left side. IC out shot UC 15-1 in the first half of play.

Ithaca went on to net two more in the second half, one from Palladino and one from Kaitlyn Hoffay, to earn the six goal victory.

Rivera stopped five shots in net for Utica, while reserve goalie Stephanie Simonds (Sidney, NY/Sidney) added a career-high eight saves in the second half.

The Pioneers return to action against RPI Saturday for a non conference contest on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The game is set to begin at 5 p.m. Ithaca remains on the road Saturday when it travels to Empire 8 Conference foe Stevens Institute of Technology for a contest at 3 p.m.

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