UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team celebrated senior day in exciting fashion with a 2-1 overtime win over the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Saturday evening. 
 
Both Pioneer goals came from Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) who notched her second OT game-winner of the season. Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) assisted on the extra frame goal while Christina Jackson (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) aided her first. Utica outshot Nazareth 25-1 overall and 19-1 on goal with Naz's lone shot resulting in a score. All three combined goals came over the final 10 minutes of play. 
 
Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) earned the winning decision while Morgan Russo, despite 17 saves, picked up the loss for the Golden Flyers. 
 
Although the Pioneers had six chances in the first quarter and another eight in the second, Russo kept the Pioneers off the board as the game entered halftime 0-0. The third quarter saw more of the same as the second with Utica firing off eight shots, six of which on goal, but Russo denied each one to send the game into the fourth still scoreless. 
 
That would be when the fireworks in the game went off. Midway through the 51st minute and on the advantage, Lydia Coombs found Audra Mieczkowski near the cage and she was able to sneak it past Young for a 1-0 Nazareth lead. 
 
Just three minutes later, the Pioneers found themselves with a chance off a penalty corner. Jackson received a pass from Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) which caused Russo to come out of position to defend. This allowed an open Pisano to set herself up for a clean look and upon Jackson's pass, she did just that to even the score. 
 
With two minutes remaining in regulation, Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) had one more look on cage but Russo made her 17th save of the game to send the game into extra time. 
 
However, Pisano ensured that overtime wouldn't go on for long. Just 26 seconds in and off another corner, the ball was swung up top to Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) and the senior made a quick pass to Pisano who was in position to poke the ball in for the win. 
 
With the win, the Pioneers currently hold fourth place in the Empire 8. 
 
Utica (4-8, 2-2 Empire 8) will travel to Schenectady, NY on Tuesday to take on Union College for its final non-conference game of the season.