Box Score Utica, NY (10/17/12)- The Utica College women's soccer team dropped an Empire 8 Conference game Wednesday, 3-0, to nationally-ranked No. four Ithaca Bombers.  Junior Caitlyn Smith (Waterville, NY/Madison) had 17 saves in the loss.

Ithaca got on the board in the 15th minute as Ellyn Grant-Keane scored her fifth goal of the season.  Teammate Julie Winn played a ball in the box from 20 yards out.  Grant-Keane's first shot was stopped, but Smith was unable to stop the rebound as the Bombers took a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers had their best chance of the game just under two minutes into the second half as the Pioneers were awarded a free kick around midfield.  Junior Samantha Matthews (Valley Falls, NY/Tamarac) shot a ball that Ithaca goalie, Becca Salant bobbled.  Freshman Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) had an open net, but was not able to control the ball and fired a shot over the crossbar.

Ithaca scored again 15 minutes into the second half as Rachael Palladino netted her team-best tenth goal of the year.  Senior Megan Trager ran down the right side and centered a ball into the box that Palladino was able to redirect in the net from the top of the six-yard box.

The Bombers capped off the scoring in the 73rd minute as freshman Kelsey King found the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

Caitlyn Smith (Waterville, NY/Madison) made 17 saves including a number from close range to keep the Pioneers in the game.  Her counterpart, Becca Salant made three saves in the win.

Ithaca improves to 14-0-1, while Utica drops to 6-8 on the year.  The Pioneers return to action Saturday as they travel to Oneonta, NY for the final conference match of the season against Hartwick.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.


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