Box Score Utica 5, Hartwick 2 - Box Score

Utica, NY (10-16-11) - The Utica College field hockey team maintained first place in the Empire 8 Conference as it defeated host Hartwick College, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Wright Stadium.  Freshman standout Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) netted the Pioneers first two scores of the game.

Steele-Norton put in a miskick from Hartwick goalie Megan Campbell, just .14 into the game, to record her tenth goal of the season. The Hawks answered just under four minutes later, at 4:01, tying the game, 1-1, as Kelsey Kimble tipped in a high shot in front of the goal.

At halftime the game was tied despite Utica outshooting the home team 12-2.  The Pioneers also held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners.

UC came out firing in the second half as Steele-Norton slapped in her team-leading 11th goal of the seasn, at 47:21, following a shot from Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central), to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead. Just over two minutes later, Utica senior defender Jessica Ahearn (Bangor, PA/Bangor) tallied her second goal of the year after a dish from freshman Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), as UC pushed to a 3-1 lead.

The home team answered, at 58:29, to cut the deficit to one goal when Kimble scored her second goal of the contest to make the score 3-2. However, the Pioneers continued their aggressiveness as they netted two more goals at 63:57 and 69:26, improving to 4-1 in the competitive E8.

Freshman Marissa Davendonis (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) collected her first collegiate goal when she cruised up the left side and slipped in a low shot. Mackey capped the scoring, and the UC victory, as she tucked a shot in the far corner with under a minute left.

Goalkeeper Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego) registered one save  as UC out shot HC, 25-5, on the day.

The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they travel to Troy, NY to  square off against RPI. The non-conference contest is set for 7 p.m. at Ned Harkness Field.