Freshman Keys Pioneers Win Over Stevens in E8 Opener
Utica, NY (9-17-11) – The Utica College field hockey team opened up Empire 8 Conference play with a road victory against Stevens Institute of Technology, 5-3, Saturday in Hoboken, NJ. Freshman Hannah Mackey led the Pioneers with two goals, while classmate Alaina Stojkovski registered a career-high two points on one goal and one assist.
UC has now won three of its last four games and improved to 3-2 overall on the year, to go along with a 1-0 ledger in conference play. The Ducks, who made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament last Fall, dropped their record to 1-4 overall.
The Pioneers dominated the first half of play, out shooting the Ducks 19-5 in the first 35 minutes, as they jumped out to a 3-1 before the first intermission.
Senior Mallory Mariano opened up the scoring at 15:22 after a Stojkovski dish, as Utica took a 1-0 lead early on. Stevens evened up the score at 1-1 after a Rachel Chavex goal just over one minute later at 16:52.
The Pioneers converted the next four scores as they pushed to a 5-1 advantage with less than 20 minutes left to play. Freshman Louise Steele-Norton scored at 30:26, while Mackey recorded her second goal of the contest, and fourth of the season, at 37:06 to give Utica a 4-1 lead.
Stojkovski continued the Pioneers' onslaught as she netted her second collegiate goal at 51:17, off of a penalty stroke, to give UC a commanding four goal lead midway through the second half.
Senior goalie Monica Storms registered six saves as she tallied her first conference win of the year.
The home team answered with two more goals in the final ten minutes of action to cut the score to 5-3, but it proved to be too late as UC sealed their second consecutive victory over Stevens in as many years.