Alaina Stojkovski scored 27 seconds into the contest to start the Pioneers off on the right foot Saturday
Box Score Utica 3, Hartwick 1 - Field Hockey Final
Utica, NY (10/27/12) – The Utica College field hockey team secured the No. 2 seed in next weekend's Empire 8 Conference Tournament at top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology after topping Hartwick 3-1 at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium on Saturday morning. The Pioneers (12-5, 4-3 Empire 8) are making their third consecutive appearance in the conference tournament. After opening the season 1-3 in conference play, the Pioneers have now won three straight conference contests to earn the second seed in post season play.
The Pioneers scored early in each half, including the first goal of the contest just 27 seconds in, from the stick of
sophomore Alaina Stojklovski, to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.
Hartwick netted the equalizer late in the 31st minute to knot the score at 1-1 as the halftime horn sounded. Kelsey Kimble scored from seven yards out, her 12th goal of the year, off a pass from Megan Lefeber to help the Hawks even the score.
UC went on to net two unanswered goals in the first 3:28 of the second half to secure the conference tournament bid. Sophomore stand out
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) netted her conference-best 22nd goal of the year, off a rebound, after the initial shot from
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) was saved by Hartwick replacement goalie Kailee Granger. Steele-Norton entered the contest ranked eighth in the country with an average of 1.43 goals per contest and she added to her single-season goal and point scoring record at Utica.
Mackey sealed the Pioneers' victory when she broke free down the sideline and scored on a breakaway, her 12th goal of the year, to give the Pioneers a two goal advantage in the 38th minute.
Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) was credited with an assist on Mackey's final goal. Stojkovski entered the contest ranked second in the Empire 8 and 15th nationally in assists per game. She also ranks fourth on the College's career assists list.
That was all the scoring freshman goalie
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) and the Pioneer defense would need, as they held Hartwick scoreless throughout the second half. Casey finished the day with seven saves in net for the Pioneers.
UC will return to action as the second seed in Hoboken, NJ at Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday. Their opponent will be decided later today after the completion of the Elmira/Washington & Jefferson contest at 1 p.m. The last two seasons the Pioneers have been bounced by Washington & Jefferson in the first round of the conference tournament. UC hosted the E8 tournament as the top seed one year ago.
--- www.ucpioneers.com ---
