SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Utica University field hockey team opened its 26th season of competition on Tuesday afternoon, traveling to Wagner Park for a matchup with Liberty League opponent Skidmore. The Pioneers battled throughout the afternoon, but, despite a strong performance from a solid group of Pioneers led by
Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls), the team would ultimately fall by an 8-2 final to start the campaign.
The orange and blue finished the afternoon with eight shots, putting four attempts on frame. Utica also earned six penalty corners against the Thoroughbreds, with the Pioneers converting two of their opportunities into goals - a great sign of strength going forward for the program.
Involved in both of those scores was the junior Durfey, who racked up three points in the non-conference clash, falling just short of her career high which she recorded during a two-goal game this past season.
Skidmore applied pressure from the opening whistle, grabbing three goals before halftime and scoring twice during the third quarter to push its lead to 5-0. However, the Pioneers would attempt to battle back against the strong Liberty League side during second half action.
The Pioneers would respond late in the third quarter, cutting into the deficit with their first goal of the 2026 campaign. Durfey found some space on the left side, and finished off a pass from
Keeley Savona (Kingston, NY/Kingston) at the 41:46 mark to net the team's first goal of the season. The play was a beautifully ran penalty corner, with
Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) serving as the inserter, as she passed to Savona at the point, who then swung it to the goal-scorer Durfey on the left side. Durfey would drive it past the recovering goaltender to knot her eigth career score and get off to a great start in her junior season.
Durfey wasn't done, though, as Utica would have the final say thanks to her aggressive play. The Pioneers continued to battle until the final whistle, as highly-touted freshman forward
Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) scoring the first goal of her collegiate career with just 1:35 remaining. Chase, who was a scoring machine in high school, followed a Durfey rebound to slot away the ball on the back post. Durfey received the assist, totaling her third point of the game, thanks to another stellar shot from the left side. Chase's cleanup would bring the game to its final tally of 8-2.
Durfey finished the afternoon with a team-high two shots on goal while also recording the aforementioned assist and goal. Chase added a goal on her lone shot on frame, while Savona and Durfey each recorded an assist.
Sophia Weiss (Huntington, NY/Huntington) made six saves in 60 minutes during her first career start in the cage.
The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Friday when they travel to Oneonta for the first game of the Oneonta State Invitational. Utica will face the Red Dragons at 1:00 p.m. at All College Field before taking on St. Lawrence on Saturday.
