UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team took down Empire 8 Conference newcomer in decisive fashion Wednesday evening, by a score of 5-0. 
 
Finding the back of the net for the Pioneers was Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent), Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton), Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), and the team was credited with a goal as SUNY Poly found the back of its own net. Piersma was the only Pioneer to tally an assist in the contest. Richard, Noble and Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) each recorded three shots with a pair of Richard and Noble's falling on goal. Megan Fedish (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay), Jess Almeida (Bristol, RI/Tabor Academy), Mackenzie Turner (Hamilton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton), Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), and Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) all recorded at least one shot in the contest. In goal for the Pioneers was Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) and Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), who would combine for the clean sheet effort. 
 
The first half would open with the Pioneers bringing the offensive pressure, putting up four shots in the first six minutes of the half, with Noble recording a shot within the first two minutes of the frame. It would be in the 12th minute that the scoreless tie would be broken as the Wildcats would make a costly error ending in the ball in the back of the net from their own player. Less than two minutes later, Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton) would sound the alarm for the Pioneers as her shot would rifle past the Wildcat goalkeeper to double the Pioneer lead at 2-0. Utica would be able to keep the pressure going, not allowing Poly to record a shot until the 24th minute. The Pioneers would turn and burn on the Wildcats, with Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) finding the back of the net in the 29th minute on a feed from Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) to put the Wildcats on ice and bring the score to 3-0 in favor of Utica. The Pioneers would continue the momentum recording another three shots in the opening frame to send the Pioneers into the break with a comfortable lead. 
 
The second frame would see the same offensive pressure from the Pioneers as the team would record three corners in a row, starting in the 48th minute. It would be Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) that would find the back of the net to start the second half scoring for the Pioneers to bring the score to 4-0. Utica would continue to fire off shots on the Wildcat goalkeeper and keep the momentum in its favor, until Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) would find the back of the net for the Pioneers to bring the score to 5-0 and put the game completely out of Wildcat reach. Both teams would fight for possession for the remainder of the half, but the efforts would come up unfounded for both teams, as Utica would walk away with the win 5-0. 
 
Utica (4-6, 2-2 Empire 8) returns home Saturday, October 5 to take on Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Geneseo. Game time from Laura M. Casamento Field is set for 4p.m.