UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team delivered its most explosive offensive performance of the season on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Keuka College 9-1 at Gaetano Stadium for its second consecutive Empire 8 victory. The Pioneers erupted for nine goals, with six different players finding the back of the cage in a dominant showing that featured multiple firsts for the orange and blue.
Freshmen Adele Crayton (Hudson, NY/Taconic Hills) and Gabby Grounds (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) each recorded their first career goals, while Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) also opened her scoring account for the season, notching two goals and two assists to lead the team in points. Crayton and Benincasa each scored twice, while Grounds added a goal of her own. Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) continued her strong stretch with a goal and three assists, Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) recorded two goals and an assist, while Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) and Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) each picked up points as the Pioneers' offense overwhelmed the Wolves throughout the afternoon.
The Pioneers set the tone early, with Marcantonio opening the scoring at the 13:55 mark of the first quarter off an assist from the senior Spiezio. The Pioneers carried that momentum into the second quarter, as Chase scored twice in a span of 5:34. Benincasa assisted on both goals, giving Utica a 3-0 advantage before Keuka answered at 26:40 to cut the deficit to two.
The Pioneers responded immediately. Just 1:26 after the Wolves scored, Crayton netted her first career goal off a feed from Chase to restore Utica's three-goal cushion heading into halftime. Crayton struck again at 33:00 in the third quarter, finishing a pass from Marcantonio to make it 5-1 as the team kept their foot firmly on the gas pedal.
Benincasa then took center stage, scoring twice in just over a minute. At 38:14, she found the cage off an assist from Spiezio before converting another opportunity at 39:29, with Marcantonio providing the setup. The back-to-back goals pushed Utica's lead to 7-1 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Pioneers showed no signs of slowing down in the final frame. Durfey scored at 51:10 off an assist from Marcantonio, and Grounds capped the scoring at 55:31, finishing a feed from Durfey for the first goal of her collegiate career and Utica's ninth of the afternoon.
The Pioneers kept up their momentum from Wednesday's win, as they outshot Keuka 23-1 and held a commanding 15-1 advantage in penalty corners. Goalkeeper Alannah Nole (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) played 51:49 and helped limit the Wolves to one goal before Sophia Weiss (Huntington, NY/Huntington) entered for the final 8:11.
The Pioneers now look towards a massive midweek matchup at Nazareth University next week, heading to Rochester to go against the Golden Flyers next Wednesday. That contest kicks off at 6:00 PM over at NLPA Field. The team will also return to Gaetano Stadium next weekend for Senior Day, welcoming Brockport for a 2:00 PM tilt.
