CANTON, NY - The Pioneers returned to Hall-Leet Stadium on Sunday afternoon to play their final of two games in this year's North Country Invitational Tournament. On the second day of play, Utica faced the hosting St. Lawrence Saints, a team that returned nearly all of its production from last year. With this in mind, the Pioneers looked to establish themselves early on, looking to keep improving in game two of an early 2025 campaign. This time around, it was the hosts who found the cage quickly, using a first-half barrage to defeat Utica by a 5-0 margin.

Both teams found chances in the early stages of the matchup, with the Pioneers notching seven shots in the first half. They were also barely being edged out in corners during that same time period, earning three penalty corners to St. Lawrence's four in the first 30 minutes. Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) once again led the way for the Pioneers, recording four shots on goal, but barely missed out on scoring her first goal of the season on all four occasions. Kassidy Gloude (Camden, NY/Camden) and Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) also each added a shot on goal during the contest.

On defense, the Pioneers' defensive center, Ryleigh Johnson (Camden, NY/Camden), grabbed a game-high two defensive saves. Midfielder Samantha Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) also showcased her ability to get it done on the defensive end, picking up a single defensive save from the midfield position. 

Speaking of defense, the Pioneers held it down in the second half of Sunday's contest, shutting out the powerful St. Lawrence attack thanks to a spectacular debut from rookie goaltender Sophia Weiss (Huntington, NY/Huntington). The Long Island native played well up in the north country, picking up six saves and keeping the cage empty during her 30 minutes of play in the second half. 

The Pioneers will now have a 13-day break to recover and adjust before heading to face another Liberty League foe in RPI on Saturday, September 13th.