WASHINGTON, PA - Backed by three goals off the stick of Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington), the Utica University field hockey team defeated Washington & Jefferson College 4-2 in Empire 8 action. 
 
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. 
 
Utica (2-4, 1-1 Empire 8) will play its last of five-straight on the road when the team travels to Oswego State at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28.