ONEONTA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team lost to Hartwick College 5-1 in the Empire 8 Semifinals on Friday afternoon.
 
The first quarter did not see many shots as the teams combined for just four. However, the key difference was that the Hartwick Hawks managed a whopping seven penalty corners in the first quarter to Utica's zero. The Pioneer defense held strong and was able to block two of the Hartwick shots while goalie Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) saved the other. The first quarter ended 0-0 as the teams could not break the scoreless tie.
 
To begin the second quarter, Hartwick continued its rampage of corners and had another six throughout the second frame. The Pioneer defense continued to battle and protect the net as Kylee Wojciechowski (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) made a stellar defensive save to keep the game scoreless. Yet, halfway through the quarter a Hartwick penalty corner led to a perfect drive from the top of the circle to give the Hawks a 1-0 advantage. The Hawks continued to pour on the corners and scored on a backdoor cross with 3 minutes left in the quarter to increase their lead to 2-0 heading into the half.
 
In the third quarter the Pioneers started to find their stride as the team blasted three shots off of three corners. Five minutes into the quarter, Hartwick scored again to increase its lead to 3-0. At the end of the quarter, Wojciechowski fired a beautiful shot, yet was denied by a stellar goalkeeper save to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard.
 
Utica had three penalty corners and two shots within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter yet could not find the back of the net as the Hawk defense continued to be resilient. The Pioneers battled for possession, yet Hartwick was able to put in a rebound for a 4-0 edge. With three minutes to go in the game, Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) found the back of the net off of a perfect pass from Wojciechowski to make the contest 4-1. Hartwick scored again with just thirty seconds left to make the score 5-1 which would be the final score of the match.
 
The Pioneers fired off seven shots today and their lone goal came off the stick of Frank and was assisted by Wojciechowski. In net, goalkeeper Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) finished with five saves.
 
Utica finishes the season with an 8-10 overall mark while Hartwick will advance to Sunday's Empire 8 Championship.