Field Hockey 10/15/2011 3:30:49 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Utica College Pulls Away Late to Down Hartwick Field Hockey

Field Hockey 10/15/2011 3:30:49 PM Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Utica College Pulls Away Late to Down Hartwick Field Hockey

            ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick trailed by a 3-2 margin to Utica with under 10 minutes remaining, but two late Pioneers goals in the final 6:03 handed the visitors a 5-2 victory in Empire 8 Conference field hockey on Saturday at Wright Stadium. The loss drops the Hawks to 6-7 overall, 3-2 in the Empire 8, and into a third-place tie in the standings with Washington & Jefferson. Utica stays atop the E8 standings with a 4-1 mark. The Pioneers are 9-5 overall.
            Hartwick was led on the day by junior Kelsey Kimble (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley), who scored both 'Wick goals. Alicia Flewelling (Queensbury, NY/Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) earned an assist.
            The Pioneers jumped in front quickly as Louise Steele-Norton scored the first of her two goals on the day with a tally just 14 seconds into the game. Hartwick keeper Megan Campbell's (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional) clearance attempt spun backwards and back toward the Hawk cage. Campbell recovered to stop the ball just in front of the goal line, but Steele-Norton was there to force it in for the early UC lead.
            The Hawks evened the score at the 4:01 mark following a penalty corner. Abby Wentlent's (Greene, NY/Greene) shot attempt at the circle was deflected up in the air. Flewelling batted the ball out of the air to Kimble, who one-timed it in past Pioneer goalie Monica Storms.
            Utica held the territorial advantage over Hartwick for the remainder of the first half, out-shooting the Hawks by a 12-2 margin. The Pioneers also earned seven of the half's 11 corners. Nonetheless, the game remained 1-1 after 35 minutes.
            UC forged ahead 12:05 into the second half as Steele-Norton finished off her second tally. Hannah Mackay made the play happen as she dribbled into the circle and around Campbell, then delivered a pass on the doorstep to Steele-Norton, who slapped it in.
            Two minutes, sixteen seconds later, UC extended its advantage as Jessica Ahearn tallied off an Alaina Stojkovski pass.
            Kimble brought the Hawks to within one off a solid individual effort with 11:31 to play. She dribbled up the middle of the field in the UC end, beat two defenders, moved around Storms, and back-handed in her second of the day to make the score 3-2 UC's favor. It marked her 22^nd career goal and 55^th point for the Hawks.
            The Pioneers would put the game away, however, with a goal from Marissa Davendonis and another from Mackay in the closing stages of the game. Davendonis dribbled up the left sideline and into the middle before tucking the ball underneath a charging Campbell for her first goal of the season. Mackay then added her ninth of the season with 34 ticks left.
            The Pioneers finished the day with a 25-5 edge in shots and a 16-8 advantage in penalty corners. Campbell finished the game with a career-best 15 saves for Hartwick. Storms made one save for Utica.
            Hartwick next plays on Wednesday, October 19 at cross-town rival Oneonta State. Game time is 7 p.m.

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