Late Goals Lifts Bard Over Utica

Late Goals Lifts Bard Over Utica

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ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – Host Bard College outscored Utica College 2-1 in the final 45 minutes of action to earn a 2-1 victory in non-conference play Wednesday night.

The Pioneers' record moved to 5-9-1 overall with two games remaining on their schedule.  UC travels to Nazareth College Saturday for Empire 8 Conference play at 1 p.m.  Utica returns home on senior day when it hosts Elmira College for a conference contest on November 1 at 7 p.m.

Trailing 1-0 in the second half, the Pioneers tied the game up with the rain literally hitting them in the face due to the 30 MPH winds. Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) found Maddisen Melley (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) streaking down the right side, and Melley beat Bard keeper Kelsey O'Brien to the far post from 18 yards to knot it at 1-1 in the 69th minute.

Melley now has a team-best seven goals this season and she is tied with Fitzpatrick for the team-lead with 14 points.  Fitzpatrick has manufactured her 14 points through five goals and four assists.

Abbey Labrecque had given Bard the lead in the 50th minute. She took a pass from Victoria Castiglione on the left wing, ran toward the goal line, then cut back inside a Utica defender and roofed a rocket over the head of Utica keeper Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's). Berkowitz finished the night with five saves in net for the Pioneers.

Isabel Keddy-Hector scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 75th minute to lift the Raptors to victory. 

Both teams were held scoreless in the first half as the score was set at 0-0 after 45 minutes of action.