ONEONTA, NY- Freshman Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) scored two goals, including the game-winner to help lift the Utica College field hockey team to a 3-2 overtime victory over host Hartwick College Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 Conference action.
 
With the win, the Pioneers improve to 7-11 on the year with a 4-4 mark in the E8.  Utica is eliminated from playoff contention, however, as it needed Washington & Jefferson College to lose in order to move into fourth in the conference standings. 
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead as Meelan put in her own rebound just 2:37 into the contest for her second goal of the year.  Utica carried a one-goal lead into the second half until classmate Rebecca Kauffman (Mount Joy, PA/Linden Hall) deflected a shot from junior transfer Meghan McCormick (Ava, NY/RFA) to give UC the 2-0 cushion in the 50th minute.
 
Hartwick battled back, however, as it scored two goals in just under three minutes to tie the game.  Mikaelan Stuligross opened the scoring for the Hawks at 57:56 as she netted her fifth of the season, followed by a Courtney Coons tally at 60:30 to send the game into overtime.
 
Utica capitalized on a penalty corner in the extra frame as McCormick fired a low shot to the right side of the net.  Meelan, who was standing to the side of the net, redirected McCormick's shot into an open net to seal the victory.
 
Senior Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made 13 saves in the win, while her counterpart, Shannon Carter had 14 stops in the loss.
 
The Pioneers bid farewell to six seniors, who make up one of the most successful classes in UC history.  The group combined for 57 wins in their four seasons, three Empire 8 Conference Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. 
 
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) wraps up her career as the most decorated goalie in program history.  She holds the career record for wins (45) and saves (399).  She also owns the single-season record for wins (17) and shutouts (7.1). 
 
Classmate Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) concludes her career with 19 goals and 29 assists for 67 points in 82 games.  Both Dowling and Casey were recently selected to participate in the Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Division III Senior Game by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.  The game is scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. on the campus of Washington & Lee University.