SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Utica College field hockey team took a tough non-conference loss on Wednesday. The Empire 8 tournament-bound Pioneers were up for a challenge against Liberty League regular season champion Skidmore, but the host Thoroughbreds pulled away to a 6-0 win in Saratoga Springs.

The Pioneers are now 7-10 for the season with one final regular season match remaining. Utica will do battle with Houghton College on Saturday in an Empire 8 match. The Pioneers have locked up sole possession of second place in the Empire 8 entering their last conference match with a league record of 5-1. They are set to hold their best conference record since the program's unbeaten Empire 8 season in 2014, and are looking to build momentum for the postseason in Saturday's match. The Empire 8 tournament is scheduled for November 8th and 9th. 

The Pioneers were efficient in getting shots on target in the match, as six of their seven total shots landed on goal. Skidmore outshot Utica 15-7, and 14-6 in shots on goal. The Pioneers earned a total of four penalty corners. Utica goalkeeper Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) made six saves in the defeat, while Skidmore's Maddy Carre made five saves to pick up the shutout.

Madeline Krecidlo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the Pioneer offense with two shots on goal apiece. Defender Katherine LeRoy (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) was the lone Utica field player to play all 60 minutes of the afternoon contest.

The two teams played a scoreless opening quarter, but that quickly gave way as Skidmore built a 3-0 lead in a span of just under ten minutes in the second quarter. Mariah Redler opened the scoring for the Thoroughbreds at 20:07 as she flushed in a rebound past Chamberlain for a 1-0 lead.

From there, it was Jordan Mjaatvedt who took command for the Thoroughbreds. She found a pair of crossing passes and potted both of them for goals in a span of just over 5 minutes in the latter stages of the second quarter as they took a 3-0 lead at the break.

Skidmore continued to add to their lead in the second half. Morgan Sickels scored once in each of the third and fourth quarters, and Carrie Hughes added the other tally as Skidmore waltzed away with a 6-0 win.

Saturday's match against Houghton will also represent Senior Day for the Pioneers, as they honor a senior class that has helped propel the program back into the postseason spotlight with two Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearances in a three year period. That game is scheduled for 4 p.m.