ALBANY, NY - The Utica University field hockey team traveled to the University at Albany on Wednesday evening and left with a 2-1 win over the Russell Sage College Gators. 
 
The red-hot Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) got the Pioneers on the board first just shy of seven minutes into the game. Pisano capitalized on an unassisted goal on what was also Utica's first shot attempt of the evening. It was the junior's 10th tally of the season which ties her for third in the Empire 8. 
 
With four seconds left in the first, however, Sage was able to convert on its only penalty corner of the game as well as one of its two shots with a game-tying score as the clock expired. 
 
The teams entered halftime deadlocked at one while Utica held a 12-2 shot advantage as well as an 8-1 shot on goal edge. 
 
After Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) fired off a shot that was saved in the first minute, Riley Cosimeno (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) picked up her teammate a little over two minutes later. The freshman came through for her second goal of the season to give the team a 2-1 lead. That would be all the cushion Utica needed on the night. 
 
Sage failed to register a shot over the final 30 minutes of play as the Pioneers controlled the offensive attack en route to a big conference win. 
 
Of Utica's 31 shots, Pisano led the charge with seven followed by Cosimeno and Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) with six as well as five by Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden). Each of Pisano's seven shots were on goal as well. In cage, Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) had one save which came on Sage's first shot attempt in the 6th minute of the game. 
 
Utica (6-7, 5-2 Empire 8) will return home to host Medaille University at 5 p.m. on Saturday from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.