ALFRED, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team dropped its first Empire 8 contest of the season after a 1-0 road loss to the Alfred University Saxons on Saturday evening. 
 
Both teams were limited on chances through the first half as the Pioneers entered halftime ahead 5-4 in shot attempts, the first three Utica attempts being on goal. 
 
The lone goal of the game for either team came in the 56th minute as Abby Scanlan snuck one past Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) for an unassisted score. The Pioneers were only able to get off two more looks after the 56th minute score as the team fell to Alfred, 1-0. 
 
The Saxons finished with a 12-8 advantage in shots while the teams were even with four shots on goal each. Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) finished with three of Utica's eight looks while five others attempted one. In goal, Connolly recorded three saves. 
 
Utica (2-6-1, 1-1 Empire 8) returns home at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5 to host Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.