Women's Soccer

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PIONEERS KNOCK OFF #10 ITHACA IN E8 CONFERENCE PLAY

Women's Soccer

Release Date

10/29/2008
[Go to UC Sports News]

#18 Ashley Granger

BOX SCORE

Utica, NY - The Utica College women’s soccer team defeated visiting and nationally-ranked No. 10 Ithaca College 2-1 on a snowy Wednesday evening of Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Bombers had not lost a regular season conference game in over five years headed into tonight’s meeting against the Pioneers. The last time Ithaca lost a conference contest was on Oct. 11, 2003 when the Bombers lost to visiting Nazareth College 3-1. That same season was the last time Utica defeated Ithaca as well. The Pioneers posted a 1-0 victory over the Bombers on Oct. 1, 2003. Ithaca now owns an 8-2-1 all-time series advantage over Utica.

The Pioneers opened the scoring on the evening when senior forward Ashley Granger (Sutton/Sutton, MA) sent a crossing pass to former E8 Rookie of the Year Danielle Smith (Vernon Verona Sherrill/Verona). Smith then continued the cross to freshman Brenna Weidman (Holliston/Holliston, MA). Weidman collected the pass from Smith and drilled it past Ithaca net minder Alyssa Sotomayor (East Brunswick/East Brunswick, NJ) on the left side to give UC a 1-0 lead at the 52:20 mark of the second half.

Utica took a commanding 2-0 lead just under eight minutes later when senior Ashley Smith (Vernon Verona Sherrill/Verona) sent a picture perfect crossing pass to UC all-time leading goal scorer Ashley Granger. Granger met the crossing pass with her right foot and one-timed it past Sotomayor in the upper right corner of the goal. Granger’s tenth goal of the season leads the team and she now has 37 in fours years as a Pioneer.

Ithaca was able to keep the game close when junior forward Winnie Adrien (Blairstown Academy/Selden) beat a Utica defender on the outside and lobbed her 13th goal of the season over the head of sophomore goalie Samantha Lawrie (Fontbonne/East Sandwich, MA) to cut the Pioneer lead to 2-1 with just under 16 minutes to go in the game.

Lawrie came up with a few key saves in the final minutes of the contest as the Pioneers kept hope alive for a bid to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

UC snapped a three game losing streak and improved to 5-8-2 overall and 3-2-2 in conference play. National power Ithaca had not lost a game in 11 contests and dropped to 11-2-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
The Bombers out shot UC 21-16 on the day and also earned a 3-2 corner kick advantage.

Lawrie stopped 10 shots in net for UC while her counterpart, Sotomayor, made seven saves in her second loss of the year.

Utica returns to action Saturday when they travel to Nazareth College for their final regular season conference contest of the year. The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. The Bombers, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, will host Vassar College at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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