Utica, NY – The Utica College field hockey team hosted Elmira for an E8 contest on Senior Day. The Pioneers honored their seniors with a 7-1 victory over the Soaring Eagles to improve to 6-9 overall and 3-3 in Empire 8 play.
 
UC took an early 1-0 lead just 1:49 into the match, as Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) scored her first of the day. Later in the period Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) received a pass from Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) to give Utica a two score lead. Right before halftime freshman Madeline Krecidlo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) recorded her first career goal to give the team a 3-0 lead at the break.
 
Meelan notched her second goal of the game early on in the second, with Haab receiving the assist on the play. Moments later Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) got on the board with a goal to push the Pioneer lead to 5-0. Krecidlo would add to the team's lead with her second score of the day and was assisted by senior Maria Orsino (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit).
 
Elmira's Janie Kempf gave the team its lone score of the match with an assist coming from teammate Liz Shephard. With just 3:14 remaining in the contest Abbey Fitzgerald (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) was successful on a penalty stroke to register her first score of the season and give UC its 7-1 victory.
 
The Pioneers outshot Elmira 34-6 in the game and were awarded nine more penalty corners as well. Senior goalie Carly Tebolt (Wappingers, NY/Roy C Ketcham) made her first start of the season and came up with three saves on her way to earning the win.
 
UC will be back on the field Wednesday for the final home game of the regular season, in a key E8 matchup with Hartwick. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.