Steele-Norton Scores in 2nd OT to Help Utica Remain Perfect in E8 Play
Utica, NY (10-1-11) – The Utica College field hockey team beat Empire 8 rival Nazareth, 4-3, Saturday morning in a double overtime thriller at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Freshman Louise Steele-Norton had a career-high five points for the Pioneers netting two goals including the game-winner.
Utica opened up the scoring at 14:17 when junior Allee Straub recorded her first goal of the season off a cross pass from Steele-Norton.
Just over six minutes later, at 22:10, junior Hannah Mackey netted her team-leading sixth goal of the season to give the home team a 2-0 lead. The goal started on a corner attempt by senior Jessica Ahearn to UC’s point leader Mallory Mariano (14) who assisted Mackey.
Shortly after, Mackey cleared a long pass to Mariano who hit Steele-Norton in stride and found the back of the net from the five-hole to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Nazareth came out in the second half and got on the board at 45:50 as Elise Maryanopolis tallied her first goal of the season as she fired a rebounded shot off the post from Alexia Root.
A little over seven minutes later, Naz converted a penalty corner, at 52:18, from about 13 yards out to cut the Pioneers lead to one, 3-2.
The Golden Flyers continued their momentum as they converted another corner at 63:10 to tie the game at 3-3. Nazareth’s Root chipped in a shot following a corner attempt. Nina Fargnoli was awarded the assist.
Following 26 minutes of overtime play, Steele-Norton registered her sixth goal of the season as she beat the goalie on the right side off a long pass from freshman Alaina Stojkovski. Steele-Norton tied Mackey for the team-lead with sixth goals.
Mackey (10, Steele-Norton (four) and Mariano (three) combined for 17 of Utica’s 24 shots.
Senior goalie Monica Storms saved four shots while allowing three goals however remains undefeated in the E8.
UC improves to 6-3 overall and remains unbeaten in the Empire 8 at 3-0. Utica moves into first place as recently defeated conference powers Washington and Jefferson as well as Stevens. The Golden Flyers drop to 1-2 in conference play and 2-7 overall as they are now tied for sixth place with Ithaca (2-6, 1-2 Empire 8).