UTICA, NY  - The Utica University women's soccer team honored its seniors in a big way on Saturday by shutting out the Elmira College Soaring Eagles this afternoon by a score of 3-0. 
 
Finding the back of the net for the Pioneers was Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), and Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) for her first goal of the season. Assisting on the Giovingo goal was Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent), who also recorded two shots in the contest. Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester) and Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton) also registered a shot in the winning effort. In goal for the Pioneers, goalkeepers Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) and Karen Troche (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) combined for the shutout effort, with Connolly making one save.
 
The opening frame would see both teams battling back and forth trading possession before Utica would be able to find its footing in the 8th minute, being able to grasp the momentum on a corner kick. The Pioneers would register their first shot of the evening in the 9th minute from Richard, and the Pioneers would continue to rifle off shots, recording five shots in less than eight minutes. Utica would continue the offensive pressure, firing off four more shots in the opening frame, but would come up empty handed, sending the Pioneers into halftime in a 0-0 draw. 
 
Coming out of the half, both teams would struggle to find momentum, with neither side recording a shot until the 64th minute. It would be Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) that would break the scoreless tie for the Pioneers, finding the back of the net on a penalty kick after a foul was committed on Utica. Utica would be able to keep the momentum going in its favor, when three minutes later, Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) would be the one to find the back of the net all by herself, a bit of redemption for the freshman after she was handed a yellow card less than 10 seconds prior. Utica would keep the offense going, with Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) heading her first goal of the season in the 89th minute for the Pioneers on a free kick feed from Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent) to put the Soaring Eagles on ice, and allowing the Pioneers to walk away with the win, 3-0. 
 
Utica (3-6, 1-2 Empire 8) continues conference play this week as the team travels to Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Poly in a cross-town rivalry. Game time in Utica, NY is set for 6pm.