ITHACA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of host Ithaca College as the Pioneers fell to the Bombers 2-1 in overtime Wednesday evening at Ithaca's Higgins Stadium.  Senior Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) scored the lone goal for Utica. 
 
Meelan got things going early as she fired a backhand into the back of the cage just 1:57 into the game for her third goal in the last two outings.  Junior transfer Kaitlynn Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) assisted on the play, marking her first point in a Pioneer uniform. 
 
The score remained the same until midway through the second half when Ithaca's Kristen Rafferty put in a loose ball in front for her first of the year.  Maria McGloin assisted on the play.
 
Despite each team having chances towards the end of regulation, neither was able to get the go-ahead as the score was knotted 1-1 after 70 minutes. 
 
It was UC that got the first chance of the extra frame, but the Pioneers fired it wide of the goal, leading to an Ithaca break out.  Meg Dowd chased down a long ball in the Utica end and played a centering pass to McGloin who tucked the ball into the open net to seal the victory for the Bombers.
 
Freshman Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) made 11 saves in goal, while Ithaca's Savanna Lenker had six stops on the evening. 
 
The Pioneers look to bounce back Sunday as they travel to the University of Rochester.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.