UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 non-conference loss to Union College on Tuesday evening.  
 
Although Union held an 8-3 shot advantage and a 4-1 shots on goal advantage in the first period, the Utica defense and goalkeeper Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) helped keep the game scoreless entering the break. 
 
The second period would be much more offensive oriented than the first for both teams. Union broke the scoreless tie in the 62nd minute on a shot that just floated over the reach of Connolly. Utica would even the score at one in the 75th minute when Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) beat two Dutchwomen to the ball off of a Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) pass and lifted a shot in from about 15 yards out that came down in the back of the net. 
 
However, 10 minutes later Union reclaimed the lead with under five minutes to play. Off of a corner kick, Emma Devaney connected on a shot that was saved by Connolly. However, Devaney found her own rebound and scored on the put back to give Union the 2-1 lead and ultimately the win. 
 
Overall, Utica was outshot 24-8 and 12-5 on shots on goal. The Pioneers also attempted just three corner kicks in the game to Union's eight. Hernandez attempted half of Utica's shots while Cook attempted two of her own. Natalia Gerena (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Megan MacDonald (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) also attempted one shot each. In goal, Connolly recorded 10 saves while playing all 90 minutes. 
 
UC (6-3, 2-0 Empire 8) travels to Rochester, NY on Saturday, October 9 for a 1 p.m. game against Nazareth College.