ONEONTA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team got off on the right foot as it topped host SUNY Oneonta 1-0 in the 2017 season opener Saturday afternoon.  Freshman Jenny Robbins (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) netted her first collegiate goal, while senior Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) picked up the shutout.
 
After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers broke the deadlock at 55:22 as Robbins deflected a shot by Joanna Gaertner (Schuylerville, NY/Schuylerville) that found the back of the net.  That was all the Pioneers needed as Whitehouse and the UC defense shut the door.  Whitehouse finished with 10 saves for her fifth career shutout, while her counterpart, Danell Jones, had eight saves in the loss.  Senior Jordan Noga (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro), who tallied a program-best seven defensive saves last season, picked up where she left off as she tallied one defensive save. 
 
The Pioneers wrap up the weekend Sunday at Oneonta as they take on SUNY New Paltz.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.