Box Score Utica 2, Washington & Jefferson 1 (OT) - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (9/24/2011) - Senior forward Mallory Mariano (Oneida, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) collected a rebound in front of the cage and drove home the game-winner 8:05 into the first overtime period to help lift the Utica College field hockey team to a pivotal 2-1 Empire 8 Conference victory over visiting Washington & Jefferson Saturday afternoon.  UC, which has won three games in a row, now sits alone atop the conference standings and the Pioneers handed the Presidents their first loss of the young season.

“This was such an exciting and important win for our girls and our program,” said third year Head Coach Sarah Elleman.  “We knew going into the game that it was going to come down to the wire.  We have worked so hard this year to prepare for these types of opportunities and the girls responded when we needed them to today.”

The Pioneers (5-2, 2-0 Empire 8) entered the contest with redemption on their minds after falling to the Presidents (5-1, 1-1 Empire 8) in the semi-finals of the conference tournament last season.  UC has now knocked off conference powers Stevens and W & J, and the Pioneers have put themselves in an excellent position to make a serious run at the conference's regular season title.

The first half was highly contested and the Pioneers outshot the visitors 8-4, but neither team was able to capitalize on their offensive chances and the score was tied at 0-0 headed into halftime. 

Just over eight minutes into the second half freshman Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) tipped in her fourth goal of the year, after a rocket at the cage from the stick of senior Rebecca Corsones (Hurley, NY/Kingston), to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. 

5:22 later the Presidents responded when junior forward Amanda Pflumm netted her fourth goal of the year, off a rebound, to knot the score at 1-1 in the 48th minute. 

UC goalie Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego), who finished the day with eight saves, helped the Pioneers send the contest into overtime by registering several highlight-reel stops late in the contests.

Mariano's game-winner came after a shot from junior forward Allee Straub (Granville, NY/Granville) ricocheted off W & J goalie Harley Straub.  Mariano collected the rebound in front of the cage and drove a shot into the net just over eight minutes into the overtime period.  The Pioneers bench emptied out onto the field to celebrate the game-winning goal as UC improved its all-time record against the Presidents to 4-3. 

Utica outshot the W & J 21-11 on the day and the Pioneers also earned a 14-9 penalty corner advantage.

Only two teams, Utica and Elmira (1-4, 1-0 Empire 8), remain undefeated in conference play this year and the Pioneers have five E8 contests remaining on their regular season schedule. 

UC will host the second of a four game home stand on Wednesday when the University of Rochester visits Charles A. Gaetano Stadium for a non conference contest at 7 p.m.

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