UTICA, NY - The Utica College Women's Soccer team took a second straight loss against its toughest competition yet on Wednesday. The Pioneers showed resilience with a quick response after falling down 2-0, but visiting Hamilton scored twice in the second half as the Continentals walked out of Gaetano Stadium with a road win over Utica by a 4-1 score. 

The Pioneers now sit at a 5-2 record with the dawn of Empire 8 Conference play soon at hand. The Pioneers will open the conference schedule on Saturday against Houghton College.

Utica was outshot 24-3 on the goal frame by Hamilton in the match, and goalkeeper Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) piled up a career-high 20 saves for the Pioneers in goal. Utica's lone goal was struck home by Mikayla Blumenstock (Poland, NY/Poland) in the 23rd minute. Hamilton's Hyla Mosher finished with two goals and an assist in the contest.

Hamilton grabbed the possession advantage off the opening draw and leveraged that advantage into a 2-0 advantage in the opening half. In the tenth minute, Alex Fontana mashed a shot into the top right corner to give the Continentals the early leg up by a 1-0 score. The goal was assisted by Mosher. That lead doubled early in the 23rd minute when Mosher got in on the act with a finish in front off a cross by Kristin Hughes.

Seemingly on cue, Blumenstock then found the back of the net for Utica's goal. 38 seconds later, the senior striker took a magnificent lead ball from Eliza Ericson (Beacon, NY/Beacon) and turned it into a rolling shot behind the keeper and inside the left post for her sixth goal of the year and a trimmed 2-1 deficit.

It was the second reply within a minute of an opposing goal for Blumenstock in her last three matches. The senior also accomplished the same feat in a Friday night win over Potsdam on September 13th. Blumenstock now has four goals in her last four matches, and Ericson has assists in back-to-back contests. 

The Pioneers scattered the remainder of the match with various scoring opportunities, but did not capitalize a second time. Hamilton got a second goal from Mosher, and an additional tally from Caroline Dawson in the 60th minute to put the match to bed as the Continentals prevailed by a 4-1 advantage. 

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, September 21st, as they host Houghton. Match time is 3 p.m. at Gaetano Stadium.