Utica Downs Fisher in E8 Semifinal
WASHINGTON, PA- Junior Rylee Meelan scored two goals and senior Samantha Whitehouse made 13 saves as the Utica College field hockey team defeated second-seeded St. John Fisher College 2-0 in the semifinal of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament Friday afternoon.
The Pioneers will now face host and No. 1 seed Washington and Jefferson College in the championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.
After a scoreless first half, Meelan broke the deadlock at 40:07 as she fired in a shot from 10 yards out off a feed from Gianna Cavalier. After what looked like a broken play, Cavalier slipped a ball behind two St. John Fisher defenders to a wide open Meelan who placed the ball inside the far post.
Meelan extended the Utica lead just 10 minutes later as she rocketed a shot in off a penalty corner. Senior Madison Williams inserted the ball off the end line to classmate Melissa Koch at the top of the arc. Koch then dished it to Meelan, who found the back of the net for her team-leading 11
th goal of the season.
Senior Samantha Whitehouse was lights out as she stopped all 13 shots she faced and held Fisher scoreless for her third shutout of the year. Whitehouse is now tied with Amanda McDonnell '09 for second on the College's career saves list with 382. She needs just nine more saves to move into first place all-time. Junior Madison Babicz also chipped in with a defensive save, her fourth of the season, marking a new career-best for the defender.
The Cardinals outshot Utica 23-8 on the day and held a 10-4 advantage in penalty corners. The Pioneers also held Empire 8 leading scorer, Emily Markarian scoreless for just the fourth time this season.