UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's soccer team fell in overtime to Utica College on Saturday afternoon. The Saxons (8-6, 2-4 Empire 8) were defeated by a score of 3-2.
 
Utica got out to a quick start with a goal in the 13^th minute to go up 1-0. The Pioneers added to their lead minutes later with a goal at the 17:09 mark to make it 2-0. Alfred returned fire at the 29:21 mark when Emily Wright (Dallas TX/Plano West) buried a goal to make it 2-1, where the score would remain heading into halftime.
 
The game went scoreless well into the second half until Wright converted a goal off of a corner kick in the 80^th minute to make it 2-2. The Saxon defense would hold for the remainder of regulation to send it into overtime.
 
It took just over a minute for the Pioneers to send the Saxons home when Mikayla Blumenstock scored to give Utica the 3-2 victory.
 
"This was an unfortunate loss for the team," head coach Craig Yanni said. "We came out flat and unfocused in the first half which put us in a 2-0 hole. The team did a great job battling back to tie the game but conceded an early goal in OT on a close play. We look forward to working on the mistakes we made and finishing the season out on a high note."
 
Natalie O'Brien (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) and Amanda Guariglia (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South) each had 2 shots on goal for the Saxons. Abigail Austin (Hornell, NY/Hornell) had one shot on goal. Makenzie Cashmer (Weedville, PA/Elk County Catholic) played the entirety of the contest and had four saves on the day.
 
AU will be on the road at D'Youville College on Wednesday evening at 7PM.