ONEONTA, NY - The Utica College field hockey team grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second quarter, but host Hartwick College scored twice in the second half as the Hawks topped the Pioneers by a 2-1 score at Wright Stadium in Oneonta.
The Pioneers fall to 1-2, while the Hawks improved to 2-1. All games for both teams have been conference contests.
The Pioneer goal came by way of
Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport), while
Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) picked up the assist. Files led the team with two shots, and both of them landed on goal.
Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) made 12 saves in goal today for UC.
Hartwick got goals from Sydney Gagnon and Libby Fortin. Allyson Osborne made one save.
The Pioneers were outshot by a 23-4 margin, and Hartwick earned thirteen penalty corners to Utica's 3.
Utica was able to overcome a chain of early opportunities from Hartwick to grab the 1-0 lead on a penalty corner. Whitehouse took the shot and it was deflected in by Files with 8:51 to go in the second quarter for a 1-0 lead.
That advantage lasted into the second half before the hosts made their move. Gagnon recorded the equalizing goal in the third quarter, and Fortin broke the tie with 5:53 to go in the fourth quarter off a penalty corner to give Hartwick the win.
The Pioneers will wrap up the regular season schedule on Sunday against Houghton College. That matchup is set for a 1 p.m. start.
