UTICA, NY – Senior forward
Maddisen Melley (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) netted two goals to lead the Utica College women's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over visiting Alfred University in Empire 8 Conference action on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday. Melley now leads UC with six goals on the season, including a team-best four game-winning goals.
The Pioneers snapped a seven game slide and improved their record to 5-8-1 overall on the season and 1-5 in conference play. Utica also picked up its first win of the season at home in front of a welcoming Homecoming crowd at Gaetano. Alfred's record moved to 3-10-2 overall and the Saxons remain winless in conference play at 0-6.
Utica's
Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) got the Pioneers on the board in the 13
th minute when she netter her fifth goal of the season off a rebound to give UC a 1-0 lead at 12:57. Melley then netted her first of the night just under 11 minutes later, her fifth of the season, off her own rebound to give UC a commanding 2-0 lead in the 24
th minute. The score would stand through 45 minutes and the Pioneers took a two goal lead into the half.
Alfred cut the Pioneer lead in half in the 64
th minute when Nicole Lobur netted her second of the season, off a corner kick from Lauren Wyant, to make the score 2-1 at 63:54.
5:10 later, Melley added her second of the night, assisted by
Jenna Hughes (Brookfield, NY/Brookfield), to give the Pioneers a two goal cushion in the 70
th minute of action. 6:53 later, Hughes put the contest away with her first goal of the season, assisted by
Maddison Vitale (Ilion, NY/Ilion), to cap the scoring on the afternoon for the Pioneers.
Utica is now 12-1 against Alfred dating back to 2002.
UC goalies
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) and
Kelly Heimerle (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) split time in net for the Pioneers. Heimerle made three saves and allowed the lone Saxon goal, while Berkowitz stopped one shot and picked up the victory.
Utica outshot Alfred 20-5 on the afternoon and the Pioneers also earned a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
UC returns to action on the road Wednesday when it travels to Bard College for its final non-conference contest of the season at 7 p.m.