KEUKA PARK, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team capped its regular season with a 4-0 road rout of the Keuka College Wolves on Wednesday evening.
Four different Pioneers managed to find the back of the net in Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels), Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), and Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh). Krista Panko (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) and Carly Cordts (Waterford, NY/Waterford-Halfmoon) managed to get their names on the scoresheet, each with an assist on the night. Eight different Pioneers managed to get in on the scoring chances, while Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) led the Pioneers in offensive pressure with five shot attempts. Kraft, Piersma, and Wagner each registered four attempts apiece. Three out of four of Piersma's attempts managed to land on goal. In goal for the Pioneers was Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), who posted her sixth clean sheet of the season, while not having to make a save.
The Pioneers would come out of the gate firing on all cylinders, registering the first shot of the game within the first five minutes of the contest off the foot of Piersma that would be corralled by the Keuka goalkeeper. Six more Pioneer shots would be rifled off before Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) would be able to find the back of the net in the 19th minute off a feed from Krista Panko (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) breaking the scoreless tie, 1-0. In the 33rd minute, Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) would be able to find the back of the net for the second Pioneer score of the game, making it 2-0 in favor of the Pioneers. Utica would head into the halftime break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Momentum would continue in favor of the Pioneers coming out of the halftime break, with the first shot of the frame coming off the foot of Kraft less than three minutes into the second half. Five more Pioneer shot attempts would ensue before the Wolves would be able to generate offensive pressure with the Wolves only shot attempt of the contest going out to the right of Pcola in the 62nd minute. The Pioneers would break through once again in the 68th minute with the third goal of the game coming off the foot of Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) for her 11th goal of the season. With time winding down, Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) would be able to find the back of the net off a feed from Carly Cordts (Waterford, NY/Waterford-Halfmoon) in the 88th minute, sending the Pioneers home with the victory by a final score of 4-0.
Utica (8-5-5, 5-2-4 Empire 8) now sets its sights on the 2025 Empire 8 Conference Tournament. More information regarding the playoff will be announced as it is available.
