ELMIRA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team looked to notch another Empire 8 win on Saturday morning, traveling south to Elmira to face the Soaring Eagles. What ensued was a first-half hailstorm by the Pioneers as they netted five goals to bring a 5-0 lead to the halftime break. Elmira tried to fight back in the latter half, grabbing four goals of their own, but two second-half scores by the Pioneers' hottest offensive weapons,
Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and
Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls), put the game to rest as the team secured a 7-4 victory. The team secured its fourth win of the season, improving to 3-4 in conference play.
The matchup was a very offense-oriented affair, with both teams rattling off over 10 shots on goal. Utica took the edge on shot volume, landing 17 attempts on frame, while the Soaring Eagles managed 10 of their own. Both teams also pressured well in the opposing circle, with the Pioneers earning 13 penalty corners to Elmira's 9.
Fragapane tormented the Elmira back line during the contest, grabbing her first hat trick of the season as she netted three goals and added an assist in the action. Her seven-point day helped increase her season points total to 21, also helping her maintain her lead as the top goal-scorer for the orange and blue, now with nine goals.
Four other Pioneers each grabbed one goal, as the quartet of
Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls),
Deanna Jackson (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport),
Izzy Acee (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill), and Durfey each found the cage to round out the goal scoring for the visitors.
For Jackson and Acee, they both scored their first career goals in the contest.
Four players contributed to stuffing the stat sheet for the team, with Fragapane,
Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich),
Kassidy Gloude (Camden, NY/Camden), and
Samantha Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) each adding assists from different parts of the formation.
Vanessa Leon (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead) also recorded a defensive save, halting some early Elmira momentum right after halftime.
Ismiah ChinQuee (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) got the start in net, getting her fourth win of the season.
The Pioneers will now get ready for the Hartwick Hawks, who will come to town next Wednesday for the team's final home game of the season. That matchup will get underway next Wednesday at 3:45 PM.
