Big Second Half Pushes Pioneers Over Bombers
Utica, NY
UTICA, NY (10/22/2011)- The Utica College field hockey team honored its seniors Wednesday with a 5-1 victory over conference foe Ithaca College at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Freshman Hannah Mackey recorded her first career hat trick as she led UC to its fifth conference win to remain atop the Empire 8.
Alaina Stojkovski opened the scoring less than eight minutes into the game, at 7:36, as she ran the ball into the arc and struck a shot past Ithaca backstop Kelly Singleton for her third goal of the season.
With just over three minutes to play in the half, freshman Hannah Mackey netted her tenth goal of the season at 31:53, as she snuck a ball in the left post from eight yards away to give UC a 2-0 advantage.
The second half was all Utica as Louise Steele-Norton netted her team-best 13th goal of the year as she ripped a shot passed Singleton at 40:34.
Just four minutes later, Mackey put the Pioneers up 4-0 on a play similar to her first goal, netting a goal from nine yards out.
Mackey capped off the UC scoring on a set play off a corner. Senior Jessica Ahearn passed the ball in to Ally Sanders. Sanders controlled it and fed the ball to Mackey who completed the hat trick.
With just under one minute to play in the game, senior Bomber Jessica Dillon found the back of the net, at 69:15, to end senior Monica Storms’ hopes for her second shutout of the season.
With the win, UC improves to 10-6 on the season and remains in first in the Empire 8 Conference with a 5-1 league record. Ithaca meanwhile, drops to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the Empire 8.