UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team is set to host the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament at 4 p.m. on Wednesday from Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend on Wednesday can keep up with live video and/or stats through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: The team fell 3-1 to the St. John University Cardinals in the regular season finale on Saturday night. The Cardinals jumped on the board first in what was a rematch of the 2021 Empire 8 Championship between the teams. About 14 seconds removed from a penalty corner, Fisher broke down the Utica defense and found the back of the cage for a 1-0 edge. Although Utica was outshot by Fisher 4-1 over the first 15 minutes, the score remained 1-0 after one quarter. Throughout the second quarter, Utica controlled its offensive end with a pair of shots on goal by Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and later, another by Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington). However, Fisher goalkeeper Sophia Trozzi kept the game in check as the visitors went into halftime ahead 1-0. In the 42nd minute, the Cardinals extended their lead to 2-0 when Molly Fisher poked one in off of a Utica defender deflection. However, Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) responded nearly five minutes into the fourth quarter. Mix fired off a shot from outside the arc that tipped off of a body and trickled its way in. After a referee discussion the goal stood as the Pioneers were within striking distance at 2-1. Although Utica threatened a couple times following Mix's 11th goal of the year, Fisher produced the dagger in the 58th minute off another penalty corner to secure the three-seed in the E8 Tournament. Fragapane led Utica with three shots as well as with two on goal while Pisano totaled two scoring looks. On defense, Madison Ranalli (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) extended her national ranking and single season program record with three defensive saves to give her 14 on the year. Jenna Carbone (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) also recorded one defensive save. In goal, Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) made one save. 
 
The Field: The Empire 8 Tournament will feature the league's top-six teams from the regular season. Hartwick College (9-0) enters as the top-seed and will receive a bye into the semifinals along with the second-seeded St. John Fisher Cardinals (7-2). Third-seeded Houghton University (7-2) will host the sixth-seed Keuka College (4-5) in one first round contest on Wednesday while fourth-seeded Utica (6-3) hosts fifth-seeded Washington & Jefferson College (5-4) in the other first round game. 
 
Postseason History: This season will mark the fourth consecutive in which the Pioneers have qualified for the E8 Tournament and the team's 10th trip to the dance overall. Utica has reached five championship games in its previous nine appearances while winning three in a row from 2012-14. For more information about the Empire 8 Tournament and Utica's previous trips, visit https://empire8.com/sports/2014/5/15/FH_0515143850.aspx. 
 
Maddening: Madison Ranalli (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) has had a defensive season for the ages. Her 14 defensive saves leads NCAA Division III and is also a single season program record while the workhorse is tied for the team lead with 960 minutes played. Along with that, her 14 defensive saves is an Empire 8 single season record after she surpassed the previous record of 12 set by Marisa Walck of Nazareth in 2017. 
 
Group Effort: The Pioneers' offense has been fueled by eight different players with at least one point while four of those players have reached double digits. Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) and Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) rank within the top-100 in DIII as Pisano has recorded 27 points on 12 goals and three assists while Mix has totaled 26 points on 11 goals and four assists. Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) has facilitated the offense with 15 points on four goals and a team-high seven assists while also leading the team with 36 shots on goal. Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) has also impressed in her rookie campaign with 12 points stemming from six goals which ranks third on the Pioneers. 
 
About W&J: The fifth-seeded Presidents enter the tournament 6-9 overall and went 5-4 in league play. The team ranked fourth in the conference this season with 3.067 goals per game as well as with 2.67 goals allowed per game. W&J is led by Hailey Wachowiak who leads the league with 39 points over 15 games and ranks third with 16 goals. Lily Giering (26) and Camryn Cresci (19) also rank within the top-20 in the E8 in points. In goal, Anastasia Godat is seventh in the E8 with a .692 save percentage and ranks fourth allowing 2.619 goals per game. 
 
The Series: Utica has reclaimed the all-time series against W&J with a 10-9 mark after having won the last three meetings. Backed by an Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) hat trick, Utica defeated Washington & Jefferson College on September 24, 4-2, in Washington, PA this season. Pisano scored her first goal, as well as the team's, nearing the end of the first quarter. The junior collected a pass from Christina Jackson (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) for her second tally of the season coming at the 13:09 mark. Pisano scored again nearly three minutes later, this time unassisted, to put the Pioneers ahead 2-0. W&J, however, responded with goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes to even the game at 2-2. The score would remain tied throughout halftime and held even at two until late in the fourth quarter. In the 57th minute, Pisano capitalized for the hat trick as well as the 3-2 edge late in the game. Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added one more for good measure in the 60th minute as Utica came away with its first conference win of the season. Pisano's multi-goal performance was the first of her career while Fragapane's late goal was the rookie's third of the season. Utica out-shot W&J 14-7 on the afternoon while drawing 11 penalty corners to the home team's seven. In goal, Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) made three saves while earning the second win of her young career. 

Up Next: The winner of Wednesday's first round contest will advance to the semifinals to take on top-seeded Hartwick College. The game at Hartwick is set for Friday while the time is TBD.