Ithaca, NY – The Utica College field hockey team allowed three second half goals and lost 3-0 to host Ithaca College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.  The Pioneers held Ithaca at bay in the first half, but the Bombers came out hot in the second half with a goal just 1:27 after intermission and they never looked back on their way to a three goal victory.

Utica (0-3, 0-1 Empire 8) returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Kean University in the Pioneers home-opener at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Utica's Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) stopped 13 shots in the cage for the Pioneers, while Katie Lass made eight saves and earned the shut out for the Bombers.

After a scoreless first half of play, Ithaca (1-2, 1-0 Empire 8) got on the board twice in the first 2:47 of the second half to take a 2-0 lead.  Colleen Keegan-Twombly netted the first goal of the day for Ithaca at 36:27, while Michaela Donohue added the Bomber's second goal at 37:47.  Ithaca caged an insurance tally at 68:34 from the stick of Keegan-Twombly to seal the victory.

Utica was outshot 17-8 on the afternoon and the Bombers also earned a 10-3 advantage in penalty corners.

Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) led the Pioneers with three shots in the E8 opener.