UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team fell to the first place Hartwick College Hawks 3-1 at home on Wednesday evening. 
 
The Hawks jumped ahead quickly in the first minute with a goal at the 42 second mark for a 1-0 lead. However, Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) evened the score just shy of eight minutes later on a redirect goal off of an initial shot by Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden), who received credit for an assist, to tie the game at one all. Hartwick controlled offensive possession in the second quarter as the team out-shot the Pioneers 4-0 while a nice back-door find to Ashley Tricarico from Julie Ruzzi put the Hawks back ahead in the 23rd minute. 
 
The game stayed 2-1 until the 49th minute when the Hawks extended their lead and eventually pulled away with a 3-1 win. Overall, Utica was out-shot by Hartwick 13-3 including 8-3 on goal. The Hawks also drew 12 penalty corners to the Pioneers' three. 
 
Pisano and Mix connected for the lone Utica score on what was Pisano's 21st point of the season and the 20th for Mix. The duo also accounted for each of the team's three shots as Pisano had two and one from Mix. In goal, Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) recorded five saves for the Pioneers. 
 
Utica (4-7, 3-2 Empire 8) will travel to Nazareth College on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest with the Golden Flyers.