ALLENTOWN, NY - Pioneer field hockey returned on Saturday after a long, 11-day break in the middle of their month-long road trip. The team took their longest trip of the regular season, voyaging down to Allentown, Pennsylvania for a matchup with the Muhlenberg Mules.
 
Muhlenberg entered Saturday on a hot streak, winning their last two matchups by a combined margin of 8-1. The Mules' heat combined with the Pioneers' little bit of rust led to a long outing for Utica.
 
Despite the score, the Pioneers mounted a monumental defensive stand in the 1st half, with goalkeeper Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) directing traffic at the back and laying out late in the 1st quarter for a huge save to keep Muhlenberg scoreless. Even the Mules' initial score was off of a broken play, one which caused the ball to take numerous off bounces and fall right at the feet of a Muhlenberg forward.
 
After the opening goal, the Pioneers played the Mules to a standstill for the rest of the first 30 minutes. Utica's defensive effort led them to trail by a single score at halftime.
 
The Mules found the correct halftime adjustments to employ in the final frames, finally breaking through the Pioneer defensive line. As the final buzzer sounded, the Mules captured a 7-0 win over the Pioneers.
 
Utica will be back on the road next week, traveling to St. Lawrence on Wednesday for their final game before the Empire 8 slate gets underway next weekend.