UTICA, NY - Second half offense and total defensive domination guided the Utica University field hockey team to a 4-0 home opening win over the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs on Friday evening. 
 
After a slow offensive first quarter from the Pioneers, Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) put the team ahead with about eight and a half minutes to go before the half. Mix used a hesitation move on a penalty shot and snuck it to the left of Morrisville goalkeeper Morgan Dueber for a 1-0 lead. 
 
Utica's offense went on to score three more times in the third. Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) found Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy ) about five yards out from the cage for her first career goal and a 2-0 lead. Fragapane went on to score again nearly three minutes later, this time off of a Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) pass as the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead. The final tally came midway through the third period off the stick of Jedreicich who collected a pass from Mix. 
 
From there, the Utica defense continued to play lockdown. The Pioneers held the Mustangs to zero shot attempts to their 17 and 15 on goal. The home team also drew 14 penalty corners to just one from Morrisville. 
 
Jedreicich led the team with six shots while Mix, Pisano, Fragapane and Riley Cosimeno (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) all had two. Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) recorded her first win and shutout of her career as well. 
 
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will begin a five-game road trip starting with SUNY Brockport at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14.