UTICA, NY - Pioneer Field Hockey returned to ABM Field on Wednesday night to test their mettle in a non-conference matchup against a tough Union College team. In a fast-paced match, Utica fell to the battle-hardened Garnet Chargers by a score of 3-1.
 
Union has had a chance to play against some tough competition this season, with all four of their losses coming at the hands of ranked teams in Williams, Hamilton, Ithaca, and Wesleyan. They also recently picked up a ranked win against Rochester. All this is to say that the Pioneers were able to hold their own against a top-tier opponent during Wednesday's action, as they went toe-to-toe with the Garnet Chargers, threatening on many different occasions but ultimately falling by a score of 3-1.
 
Utica launched their fair share of shots towards the opposing cage, sending in 12 shots with nine of those shots being on-goal. It was truly end-to-end action during the match, as the teams combined for 35 total shots.
 
The Pioneers also created many chances in the penalty corner category, earning 10 chances from the spot, only 2-less opportunities than the opposition.
 
Utica's defense was also very solid during the proceedings, with the Pioneers only letting in three goals despite facing over 20 attempts from the Garnet Chargers.
 
Leading the defensive effort was Freshman Ismiah ChinQuee (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) who had a stellar outing in what was her first career start in the cage. ChinQuee saved 13 shots on the day, stalling the Garnet Chargers at many key points during the game. She kept the Pioneers in the match many times throughout her 60 minutes in goal and allowed them to stay within reach of Union College.
 
Madison Ranalli (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) also added to her defensive save total, recording a key defensive save to bring her total to six on the season. She now sits in a three-way tie for second in the Empire 8 in the defensive save department.
 
On the offensive end, the Pioneers saw many great opportunities during the matchup, using long passes from the defensive end to give their speedy forwards a chance to make a play in space.
 
The Pioneers actually managed to put a goal across within the opening couple of minutes, although it was called back due to play restarting with the permission of the officials. Later on, the Pioneers saw another goal get called back because the shot was deemed illegal. Had these important scores counted, it may have changed the tide of the game in a major way, but instead the Pioneers had to find a way to move on from their poor fortune.
 
Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) returned the Pioneers' momentum shortly before the halftime buzzer, receiving a screaming cross from fellow forward Samantha Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) and sending past the goalkeeper to bring the Pioneers within one score. Pisano's 7th goal of the season restored the Pioneers' momentum, despite Union holding a 2-1 advantage at the halftime break.
 
After an initial Pioneer barrage to start the third quarter, Union regained the run of play, and applied pressure on the Pioneer defense for a majority of the game, securing the 3-1 victory.
 
Pisano finished as the Pioneers' lone goal scorer, while also being the leading attacker when all was said and done, logging a team-high five shots, with four of those attempts landing on goal.
 
Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) also finished with three shots (one on goal) and created many opportunities using her speed through the midfield.
 
Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) finished with two shots (two on goal) for the Pioneers.
 
Utica Field Hockey will be back on Saturday for their Senior Day showdown against Elmira College. That game will begin at 2:00 PM, with the Senior Day Ceremony beginning about 20 minutes prior, at approximately 1:20 PM.