UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team took down the fifth-seeded Russell Sage College Gators in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament First Round, 3-2, at home on Monday evening. 
 
Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) led the way with two goals including the eventual game-winner in the 4th quarter. Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) was responsible for the team's other goal. Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) and Riley Cosimeno (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) each had one assist on the day. 
 
In cage, Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) made five saves and allowed two goals en route to her first career playoff victory. 
 
Utica's Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) and Russell Sage's Alyssa Fitzgerald each registered a shot in the first five minutes of the game. At 7:30 in the first quarter Pioneers' goalkeeper Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) made a beautiful clear out of the zone which led to a Pioneer goal off a Utica penalty corner. Emily Frank (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) dished off a pass from the top of the key to Shannon Jedreicich (Deer Park, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) to give Utica a 1-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first. 
 
In the final seconds of the quarter, Sage had a scoring chance off a corner of its own, but was denied by Young to send the game into the second at 1-0 in favor of Utica. 
 
At 9:19 in the second quarter, Gators' Cheyanne Zobel fed Amy Stevens off a corner to even the match 1-1. However, the Pioneers struck back not long after. 
 
With 4:31 left to play in the half, Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) found the back of the cage for an unassisted goal to give Utica a 2-1 advantage. Both teams combined for six shots and three saves in the quarter as they went into halftime with Utica up 2-1. 
 
Sage's Amy Stevens recorded another goal early in the third quarter with a missile of a shot to tie the game 2-2. Late in the quarter, Mix fired a shot but was denied by Gator goalie, Jaia Caron. Entering the fourth quarter the score was tied 2-2.
 
Early in the fourth quarter with 13:44 left, Jedreicich came through with what would be the deciding goal. After taking the corner, the graduate student shifted down near the crease where Riley Cosimeno (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) found her on a give-and-go. Jedreicich wasted no time and shot the ball past Caron for the 3-2 Pioneers lead. 
 
The Gators had four more shot attempts over the final 13 minutes of play including a pair over the final minute and a half that were blocked. Utica did its part to bleed out the clock and advance in the tournament. 
 
Utica (7-10, 4-3 Empire 8) will travel to top-seeded St. John Fisher University on Thursday for the Empire 8 Semifinals. Game time is set for 7 p.m.