UTICA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team dropped a heartbreaker Wednesday evening as it fell to visiting Hartwick College 3-2 in Empire 8 Conference action. 
 
The loss eliminates Utica from playoff contention.  The Pioneers (6-10, 3-4 Empire 8) wrap up the season Saturday as they travel to Nazareth College.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
After 20 scoreless minutes of play, Hartwick's Perry Willett tipped a shot in off a corner to give Hartwick the 1-0 lead.  The Hawks added an insurance tally at 28:55 as Brooke Singer ripped a shot from the top of the arc off a corner and into the back of the cage for her fifth of the year.
 
Utica was able to get one back at 32:13 as sophomore Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) redirected a shot from Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) off a penalty corner for her second of the year.
 
Hartwick regained the two-goal lead at 62:31 as Willett put in her team-leading 13^th of the year.
 
The Pioneers made it interesting at 66:03 as Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) backhanded in a rebound off a Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) shot to bring the Pioneers within one.  Utica threatened with sustained pressure over the next four minutes but was unable to get the equalizer as Hartwick held on for the win.
 
Senior Carly Tebolt (Wappingers, NY/Roy C Ketcham) made six saves for Utica, while her counterpart, Allyson Osborne had three saves in the win.