Granger continues last season's winning ways

Women's Soccer Defeats Hartwick 2-1

Last Wednesday September 12th the women's soccer team defeated Hartwick 2-1 in the Empire 8 Conference game.

Hartwick scored the first goal against senior Ashley Kaufman, which put the Pioneers behind 1-0. The pioneers didn't score again for a while, until Junior Kelly Regan took the penalty shot and scored against Hartwick, which put the game tied at 1-1. Reagan had recently changed positions from playing defensive center midfield to center back so this was exciting for the pioneers.

Then shortly after Junior Ashley Granger scored the game winner. Granger, who now has seven points on the season, ended the game on an assist from senior midfielder Sarah Richards. Junior, Regan said I think we played well together overall and we looked good considering it was our first conference game. Going into the game Granger said it was nerve racking because the hawks beat them last year where one of their players sophomore Danielle Smith got hurt. After scoring the winning goal Granger said it was a great moment and can't wait till their next game on Wednesday.

The Pioneers are now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8 Conference, while Hartwick is now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The girls are now winners of three straight games. The pioneer's next conference game Wednesday the 19th home at 7 pm is vs. rivals Elmira College.

UC SOCCER WINS FOURTH IN A ROW

UTICA, NY – The Utica College women’s soccer team defeated visiting Elmira College 2-1 Wednesday night in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Pioneers improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8, while the Soaring Eagles continue their season-long losing streak and fall to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the E8. The Pioneers defeated Elmira 4-0 last season. The Soaring Eagles own a 4-2 series advantage over their past six meetings.

Junior forward Ashley Granger (Sutton/Sutton, MA) opened the scoring for the Pioneers 12:59 into the first half. Junior midfielder Ashley Smith (Vernon Verona Sherriill/Verona) crossed the ball to a sprinting Granger, who composed and found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.

Granger was not finished though, netting her team-high fifth goal of the season and giving UC a commanding 2-0 lead in the 44th minute of the first half. Granger, a former E8 all conference selection, received a long ball in stride from senior midfielder Sarah Richards ( Stafford/Stafford, CT) and chipped it from 20 yards out over Elmira senior net minder Meaghan Doherty (Albany/Albany) to close out the scoring for the half.

UC WOMEN'S SOCCER FIGHTS BACK AND EARNS E8 VICTORY

UTICA, NY – Ashley Granger (Sutton/Sutton, MA) scored the game-winner at 47:22 as the Utica College women’s soccer team defeated visiting Hartwick College 2-1 in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Wednesday night.

The Pioneers improve to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the E8, while the Hawks are now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. UC is now winners of three straight.

Hartwick jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when junior midfielder Alesha Wright (Wilton/Tamarac) gathered a loose ball 15 yards out and chipped it over the head of diving UC goalie Ashley Kaufman (Enfield/Enfield, CT). The ball then hit the crossbar and deflected down and past the goal line for the first score of the game just 4:04 into the match.

It took UC over thirty five minutes to respond but the Pioneers’ Danielle Smith (Vernon Verona Sherrill/Verona), the 2006 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, was taken down in the goalie box and awarded a penalty kick in the 40th minute. UC Head Coach Claire McClain decided to have junior midfielder Kelly Regan (Massapequa/Messapequa) take the penalty shot and she knocked it past Hawks’ goalie Ashley Taylor (Nashua North/Nashua, NH) top right corner to tie the game at 1-1.

Granger, who now has seven points on the season, netted the game-winner on an assist from senior midfielder Sarah Richards (Stafford/Stafford, CT).

Ashley Granger Empire 8 All-Conference 2006

Ashley Granger Is Named to the 2006 Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team. Led the Pioneers in points this year (20). She tallied a team-high ten goals, good for third in the conference.

Ashley Granger Named E8 Player of the Week

Written by Colin White Release Date:10/2/2006

Sophomore Ashley Granger (Sutton/Sutton, MA) of the Utica College women’s soccer team was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week for the week ending October 1, 2006.

Granger has played an instrumental role in the success of the Pioneers women’s soccer team that has won six of their last seven games and is 6-2 on the year. Last week, she had two goals in a 4-0 win over Elmira on Wednesday. It was the forth time in her career that she has scored multiple goals in a game.

Granger has four goals on the year, tied for a team high, and is first on the team in shot percentage with .500.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to Hartwick College.

Ashley Granger Empire 8 All-Conference Honorable Mention 2004

Ashley Granger receives Empire 8 All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2005 for Utica College as she collected 19 points on a team-high nine goals and one assist.