ALFRED, NY- The defending Empire 8 Conference champion Utica College women's soccer team started its title defense on the right foot as it downed host Alfred University 2-0 in the season opener Sunday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers opened the scoring in the 17^th minute as senior Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) found the back of the net to give Utica the 1-0 lead.
 
Utica added an insurance tally in the 67^th minute off the foot of Jacinta Kaminski (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent), for her first goal in a Pioneer uniform.
 
Kaminski and transfer Hillaria Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) led the Pioneers with two shots.  Freshman Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) made three saves to earn the clean sheet in her first collegiate start. Hannah Fuller and Jasmine Sims combined for four saves in net for Alfred.
 
The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they travel to Russell Sage College to take on the Gators.  Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.