ONEONTA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team finished in a 1-1 draw on the road in an Empire 8 Conference matchup against the Hartwick College Hawks on Wednesday evening. 

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) who recorded two shots on goal, one of which would find the back of the net for the Pioneers as the lone goal scored for the team in the contest. Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) recorded three shots, Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) recorded two shots and assisted on Richard's goal. Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Olivia Bochniak (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent), Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton), and Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) each recorded a shot on goal in the contest. In goal, keeper Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) made one save in the draw. 

The first half would not see a shot from either team until the 13th minute, when Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) would rifle one that would miss just high of the net to get the offense going. Utica would then give up a corner to the Hawks, then flip the field and get a corner of its own, with back to back shot opportunities from Olivia Bochniak (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) and Piersma that would not be able to find the back of the net. The Pioneers would not allow a shot from the Hawks until the 33rd minute of the frame with back to back attempts, but goalkeeper Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) would be able to haul them in. Utica would continue the offensive pressure for the remainder of the half, rifling off another two shots from Piersma and Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton), neither of which would find the back of the net, sending the Pioneers into halftime in a scoreless draw. 

The second frame would see Utica record a shot in the 52nd minute from Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), that would be blocked by a Hawks defender, triggering another three shots from the Pioneers courtesy of Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Noble again, and Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) that would all come up unsuccessful. The Pioneers would once again hold the Hawks shot-less until the 62nd minute, when a Hartwick effort would go off to the high right of the net. Both teams would continue to vie for possession until Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) would bring in a shot attempt of her own that would be hauled in by the Hartwick goalkeep in the 76th minute. Hartwick would then flip the field on Utica and drive down for a scoring opportunity that would squeak by Connolly to give the Hawks the lead at 1-0. Less than three minutes later, it would be Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) that would find the back of the net for the Pioneers off of a feed from Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) to even the game at 1-1. Both teams would fight for another scoring opportunity, but to no avail, ending the game in a 1-1 draw. 

Utica (4-8-2, 2-4-2 Empire 8) returns home on Saturday, October 19 to take on the Nazareth University Golden Flyers. Game time from Laura M. Casamento Field is set for 5pm.