UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team exploded for seven goals this afternoon to take down the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs in the team's season opener. 
 
Starting on the right note was junior Samantha Kogut (North Adams, MA/Drury), who opened the scoring for the Pioneers with her first of the season just 3:37 into the opening frame. Not long after, Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) lit the lamp for her first of the night at 5:40. In the 34th minute, in her first game in a Pioneer uniform, junior transfer Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) found the back of the net for her first goal as a Pioneer, and her first of the night. To close out the opening frame, Lamphere found the back of the net for her second of the night in the 47th minute. 
 
To open the second frame, Piersma found the back of the net once more off a feed from Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) to bring the score to 5-0. Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) then was able to net one of her own as the senior forward scraped one past the Mustang keeper. Freshman Mackenzie Turner (Hamilton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) brought down the hammer as she lit the lamp for her first career goal off a tremendous feed from Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester). 
 
Goalkeeper Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) recorded her 14th shutout of her career, posting a clean sheet in tonight's contest. Connolly recorded 3 saves on the afternoon. 
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Wednesday, September 4 at home against Penn College. Game time is set for 4p.m.