Middlebury Downs UC in NCAA Sweet 16
Middlebury, VT (11/16/13)- The Utica College field hockey team fell in its NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" game against nationally-ranked No. 2 Middlebury College, 8-0, Saturday afternoon at Middlebury's Kohn Field. The Pioneers wrap up their best season in program history with an overall record of 17-5, including their second straight Empire 8 Conference championship and automatic birth in the NCAA tournament.
Middlebury, the tournament's third overall seed, netted five goals in the first 11 minutes of the contest to all but seal the victory. The Panthers added three more goals in the second half to improve to 16-2 on the season. Middlebury will now play Skidmore in the regional final on Sunday afternoon.
Utica had spurts of pressure, especially in the second half, but were unable to mount a comeback. With just over 17 minutes remaining in the game, junior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) was awarded a penalty stroke after a Utica shot was saved on the goal line by a Middlebury defender. Steele-Norton's attempt was blocked by Middlebury's Emily Knapp, who finished with four saves on the day. Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made nine saves in net for Utica.
This year's edition of the Pioneers set new program records for wins (17), points (205), goals (77), and assists (49). UC bids farewell to five seniors, including Lindsay James (Newry, ME/Tellstar Regional), Meghan Morreale (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro), Jessica Franklin (Delevan, NY/Pioneer), Ally Sanders (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell), and Marissa Davendonis (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central). The class of 2014 goes down as the most successful class in program history. The five Pioneers collected 51 wins, four straight Empire 8 Tournament appearances, two conference titles, and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament over their four years at Utica College.