Box Score RPI 3, Utica 2 - OT - Box Score

Utica, NY (10-16-11) - The Utica College field hockey team (9-6, 4-1Empire 8) lost to host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (9-4, 4-2 Liberty League), 3-2, in overtime Wednesday night in Troy, NY.  Freshman Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School), the College's Female Athlete of the Week, led UC as she recorded her, Empire 8 Conference leading, 12th goal of the season to go along with a game-high six shots.

The Pioneers got on the board first, at 15:28, as senior defender Jessica Ahearn (Bangor, PA/Bangor) registered her third goal of the season to give Utica an early 1-0 lead. 

RPI answered with back-to-back goals, starting at 21:53, as Engineer Julie Campbell converted a pass from Alissa Peterson to tie the contest, 1-1.

Just over five minutes later, Engineer Liana Viaggio found the back of the net as she gave the home team a 2-1 lead, at 27:20. Viaggio collected her sixth season goal on the unassisted play.

The host Engineers took a 2-1 lead into halftime while outshooting the Pioneers by a mere one shot, 11-10, and holding a 5-3 advantage on penalty corners.

The second half opened up with over 24 minutes of scoreless play before UC leading scorer Steele-Norton tied the game, 2-2, at 59:32.  Freshman Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) tallied her fourth dish of the season on the play.

UC controlled the ball for the majority of regulation as they fired two shots and attempted one corner over the course of eight minutes.  The Engineers were awarded a corner at 68:54 but could not convert as the contest headed into overtime.

Just over a minute into the third period, the home team's Brianna Kilberg put home the game-winner at 71:18 to push the Engineers over the Pioneers, 3-2.

Senior goalkeeper Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego) recorded five stops while allowing three goals. On the season, Storms has faced 187 shots of which she tallied 84 saves while allowing 29 goals.  She sits atop the E8 conference with a goals against average of 1.85 and a save percentage of .752.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday as they welcome Empire 8 rival Ithaca College to Gaetano Stadium. The contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.