Box Score Utica, NY (September 9, 2014) – The Utica College women's soccer team rallied from a 1-0 first half deficit to earn a hard fought 1-1 tie against visiting D'Youville College in the home opener for the Pioneers at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Wednesday night.  Utica senior Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) netted a penalty kick, after a hand ball in the box by a Spartan defender, to knot the score for the Pioneers in the 61^st minute. Fitzpatrick now has five career goals (13 career points) for the Pioneers. 

Both teams were held scoreless through two overtime periods as the contest ended in a 1-1 draw.  The Pioneers remain undefeated on the season as their record moved to 3-0-1 overall on the season. The Spartans have now tied in two consecutive games as their record moved to 1-2-2 on the season. The Pioneers are 2-0-2 against D'Youville College dating back to 2011. UC has outscored the Spartans 8-5 all-time and the Pioneers' lone shut out came on Sept. 19, 2012 in a 1-0 victory.

Utica keeper Kelly Heimerle (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) stopped two shots on the afternoon and her goals against average now stands at 0.91 on the season. She has 25 total saves and one shut out in four starts this season. 

Melissa LaVere netted her second goal of the season in the 29^th minute for D'Youville to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the first half of play.  Rachel Hermanski assisted on the game's opening goal.  LaVere's goal came from 30 yards out and passed the outstretched arms of Heimerle into the top right corner of the Pioneer goal.

UC outshot the Spartans 13-8 on the afternoon, while D'Youville earned an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks. Catie Giebner made five saves in net for the visitors. 

The Pioneers return to the pitch on Saturday when they square off against Potsdam at 4 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.