UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's soccer team dropped its opening game of the 2015 Empire 8 Conference season as it lost to visiting Hartwick College, 2-0, Tuesday evening at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
 
Utica falls to 2-4-2 (0-1 Empire 8) on the season.  The Pioneers look to rebound Saturday as they travel to Elmira College.  Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.  The Hawks improve to 7-1 overall (1-0 Empire 8and they have now shutout opponents six times on the season.
 
After a scoreless first half, the Hartwick was finally able to find the back of the net in the 60^th minute as Hanna Konash fired a long shot from the corner of the box.  The ball slipped through the fingers of Utica keeper Jamie Enders (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), and slowly rolled over the goal line for Konash's first tally of the year.
 
Hartwick added an insurance goal just five minutes later as Casey Boucher netted her second of the year.  Cami Cleaveland played a ball from midfield, which sierra Bentley redirected to Boucher.  Boucher found a hole in the UC defense and ran in on a partial breakaway.  She played a low shot just inside the left post to give the Hawks the two-goal cushion.
 
Despite extra pressure in the final 20 minutes, Utica was not able to solve the Hartwick defense. 
 
Enders finished with eight saves on the day, while her counterpart, Megan McGillycuddy had one save.