Utica senior celebrate their third E8 title!
Utica Wins Third Straight E8 Championship
PHOTO GALLERY
The Utica College field hockey team captured its third straight Empire 8 Conference title as it downed No. 2 seed St. John Fisher, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
With the win, Utica improves to 18-2 on the year and the Pioneers clinch their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. They will now wait for the NCAA to release the bracket later this evening to find out their opponent and the location of their next game.
UC becomes just the second team in league history to win back-to-back-to-back Empire 8 Championships (Stevens won the title in 2008, 2009 and 2010). The Pioneers did not lose to an Empire 8 opponent this season, going 8-0 in the regular season and winning both games in the E8 Tournament. Utica also remains unbeaten at home, going 10-0 at Gaetano Stadium this year.
The Pioneers struck first in the 13th minute as Hannah Mackey found Louise Steele-Norton in front of the goal.
Alaina Stojkovski added to Utica's lead just three minutes later on a breakaway. Stojkovski faced
Danielle Famolaro one-on-one and scored the unassisted goal.
Fisher had its chance with 17 minutes left in the first half, as
Stacie Skidmore and
Emily Markarian broke away from the Utica defense, but Markarian shot wide right of the net. Skidmore had an opportunity of her own on a one-on-two breakaway.
Fisher had its best opportunity with seven minutes left in the first half. Markarian dribbled down the right sideline and shot it just left of the net, but
Elizabeth Cusack was there to collect the rebound, but her shot was deflected and rolled out of bounds.
Utica made it a 3-0 game in the 49th minute as Hannah Mackey moved into the circle and fired one past Famolaro in the center of the goal.
In the 70 minutes, the Pioneers held a 11-7 shot advantage over the Cardinals.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Utica: Amanda Vitro (MVP), Kells Casey, Alaina Stojkovski, Hannah Mackey
St. John Fisher: Alexis Zakala, Elizabeth Cusack and Marissa Vedella
Stevens: Dailyn Brook and Nolie Prouty
W&J: Aria DeSimini and Amanda Steffey