Utica, NY (10/1/14)- The Utica College field hockey team used five first half goals to down cross town rival, Hamilton College, 8-2 Wednesday evening.  Six players scored multiple points on the night and junior Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) set a new program record for wins in a career.
 
The Pioneers improve to 8-1 on the year and hold a 3-0 ledger over Hamilton in their last three meetings.   
 
Seniors Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central) and Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) and junior Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) each had two goals, while Mackey also added three assists.  Senior Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) chipped in with a career-high four assists, while classmate Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) tallied three points on one goal and one assist.  Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) also netted one goal for the Pioneers.
 
Utica jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first 3:46 behind goals from Dowling and Steele-Norton.  UC did not let up as the Pioneers added three more goals off the sticks of Mackey, Dowling and Stojkovski before the end of the half. 
 
Hamilton was able to get two back in the second half, but Mackey netted her second of the game and Eckert tallied the final two goals to all but seal the victory for the Pioneers.  Casey made five saves to collect her seventh win of the season and program-best 34th win of her career. 
 
Utica out shot the visitors 25-10 and held a 15-10 advantage in penalty corners.  Victoria Trentini made 13 saves as Hamilton fell to 5-3 on the season.
 
The Pioneers return to action Saturday as they travel to Nazareth for an Empire 8 Conference match up.  Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.


                                                                                                    --- www.ucpioneers.com ---