UTICA, NY- Christina Sicari (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) scored twice for Hartwick but host Utica would not be denied victory as they defeated the Hawks 4-3 on Wednesday evening. 'Wick's record is now 1-3 overall (0-1 in the Empire 8) while Utica improves to 3-4 overall (1-0 in Empire 8).
The Hawks opened the scoring first when Mackenzie Shipley (Sedro Wooley, WA/Sedro Wooley) found an open Sicari who deposited the ball in the goal to put Hartwick up 1-0.
A little over five and a half minutes later, Utica's Sarah Southwell scored unassisted to even the game up. Southwell assisted on the Pioneers second goal which was scored by Jill Benoit to give Utica the 2-1 advantage.
Kate Schild (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) would tie the game at 2 all in the 31st minute and the game remained that way at halftime.
In the second half, the Hawks regained the lead when Kylie Thayer (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) hooked up with Sicari to make it 3-2 Hartwick.
That lead proved to be short-lived as Utica would again tie the game on a goal by Samantha Spohler. Just under seven minutes later, Spohler assisted on the game-winner by Chelsea Way who shot over the head of Hawk goaltender Hope Brown (Sherburne, NY/Sherburne-Earlville).
Hartwick had a chance to tie the game with a little over five minutes to play, but Thayer's shot bounced off the crossbar.
Brown had five saves in goal for Hartwick and Utica's Samantha Glockling had eight saves.
The Hawks outshot the Pioneers 18-13 in the game.
'Wick returns home to play Bard on Saturday at Elmore Field at 1 p.m.
