Houghton, NY (September 27, 2014) - The Utica College field hockey team remained perfect in Empire 8 Conference play as it downed host Houghton College 8-0 Saturday evening.  With the win, junior goal keeper Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) tied the program record with 33 career wins. 

The Pioneers, who have now won their last five games, improve to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Houghton drops to 2-8 (0-4 Empire 8) on the year.

Senior Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) tallied four goals on the day to move her conference-best goal total to 17 on the season.  Classmate Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) had four points on the day off one goal and two assists.  Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central), Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) also added one goal each. Kieffer and Eckert also chipped in with one assist. Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) got in on the action with an assist of her own.

Utica netted four goals in each half to come away with the conference victory. Mackey led the second half charge with three goals to put the Highlanders away for good.

The Pioneers defense allowed just two shots all afternoon to earn a 19-2 advantage in the shot category. UC also won the penalty corner battle, 5-3.

The Pioneers, who are receiving votes in the latest NFHCA National Poll, return home on Wednesday as they host cross-town rival, Hamilton College. Game time is set for 6 p.m.