Box Score

UTICA, NY – Hartwick field hockey played to a 1-1 draw through the first half of play against two-time defending Empire 8 champion Utica on Saturday at Charles Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers, however, scored four second-half goals en route to a 5-2 win. The Hawks drop to 1-4 overall with the loss. Utica improves to 3-1.
           
Hartwick blanked the Pioneers for almost 31 minutes in the first half of play. Louise Steele-Norton broke the ice at the 30:59 mark as she was left wide open for the game's first goal. Hannah Mackay earned the assist on the play.
           
'Wick wasted little time drawing even as Maxine Dunn (Peterborough, NH/ConVal) put in a loose ball with Sarah Ryan (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) assisting less than three minutes after the Pioneers' tally and the Hawks went into halftime all even.  
           
UC went in front for good 8:41 into the second half. Alaina Stojkovski tipped in a feed from Colleen Dowling for the goal.
           
The Pioneers got an insurance marker at 50:26. Mackay scored her eighth goal of the season following a penalty corner.
           
The Hawks continued to battle and they pulled within one at 55:49. Ryan would score her first of the season for the Hawks off a Claudia Stone (Akron, NY/Akron) corner to make the score 3-2.
           
Just 3:06 later, the Pioneers netted their fourth goal which put some distance between them and the Hawks. Becki Vivacqua tallied on a penalty stroke and the Hartwick deficit was back to two.
           
With three minutes, nine seconds remaining in the game, Stojkovski closed out the scoring with her second of the game as she put in her own rebound.
           
Freshman keeper Yanna Boggio (Amherst, NY/Amherst) made 12 saves in the 'Wick cage today. Kells Casey and Samantha Whitehouse split time in goal for Utica. They combined for two saves.
           
Hartwick will hit the road once again on Wednesday. The Hawks play the University of Rochester at 4 p.m.