Utica, NY – The Utica College women's soccer team exploded with three second half goals on its way to a 4-1 Empire 8 Conference victory over visiting Elmira College on Saturday night.  Sophomore Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) netted a career-high two goals and added one assist while junior Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) added one goal and two assists to pace the Pioneers.

Utica won its first contest of the season and saw its record move to 1-7 overall and 1-1 in Empire 8 Conference play.  Elmira's record dropped to 0-6-1 and 0-1 in the E8.

Berkowitz gave UC a 1-0 lead at the 8:01 mark of the first half when she took a pass down the sidelines from Mazza and rifled a shot from 22 yards out over the outstretched hands of Elmira goalie Amanda Banner.

Elmira kept the pressure on UC and knotted the game up at 31:12 when Jordyn Rousselle netted her team-best third goal of the season from 20 yards out past UC freshman goalie Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy). 

Utica took the lead for good less than eight minutes into the second half when Jordynn Miller (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) headed home her first collegiate goal off a corner kick from Amanda Pawlikowski (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) to give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage.  11:19 later Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) netted her first of two goals, assisted by Berkowitz, to put the Pioneers in the driver's seat, 2-1, at the 63:37 mark of the contest.

Mazza put the game out of reach when she netted her second of the night, marking her first collegiate two-goal game, to put the Pioneers on top 4-1 at 79:14.

UC freshman goalie Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) stopped seven shots in her first collegiate victory, while Amanda Banner made seven saves for Elmira in the loss. 

The Pioneers return to action at home on Wednesday when they host Ithaca College for an Empire 8 contest at 4 p.m.