PITTSFORD, NY – The Utica College women's soccer team earned a hard-fought 1-1 overtime draw against host Nazareth College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for the Pioneers on Wednesday night. 
 
Utica's Kierra Caissey (Gardner, MA/Gardner) broke a scoreless tie in the 79^th minute when she snuck home a penalty kick past Nazareth goaltender Hannah Miller to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead with less than 12 minutes to go in regulation. Caissey leads UC with three goals this season.

Nazareth knotted the score at 1-1 in the 84^th minute to send the contest into extra time.  Mallory Ott assisted on the Golden Flyer's game-tying goal.

Both defenses stood strong in extra time as the conference foes watched overtime end with the score tied at 1-1.

Utica's record moved to 2-3-2 overall and the Pioneers are now unbeaten in four of their last five contests. The Pioneers snapped a 12 game losing streak against Nazareth that dated back to September of 2006. 

Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) stopped 11 shots on the afternoon for the Pioneers. Hannah Miller made seven saves for the home team. Naz outshot UC 24-16 and earned a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

UC returns home on Saturday for the first of a two game stretch at Gaetano Stadium when the Pioneers take on Elmira College in Empire 8 Conference action at noon.  Saturday will mark the Pioneers annual Brain Cancer Awareness Game dedicated to Courtney Wagner, sister of UC goalie Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy), who passed away in 2015 following a four year battle with brain cancer.