UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly Wildcats (2-0-0, 0-0-0 NEAC) traveled across town to take on Utica College (0-2-1, 0-0-0 Empire 8) on Thursday in a non-conference matchup. The Wildcats and Pioneers played a very close, defensive minded game. The Wildcats were able to push a goal across late in the first half to take the 1-0 lead that would ultimately be enough to win the game.

The Difference

The Wildcats goal was scored in the 44th minute of the game. Utica committed a foul about a yard outside of the box, which resulted in a Wildcat free kick. Meral Evke (New Hartford, N.Y.) was the Wildcats choice to take the kick and it paid off. Evke lined up and drilled a low liner that was deflected by the defensive wall into the right side of the goal giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Defense Wins

The Wildcats defensive unit was the key to the win. The backfield and defensive-midfield play of Alexa Yousey(Lowville, N.Y.), Alicia Wittman (Rome, N.Y.), Jordan Case (Whitesboro, N.Y.), and McKenna Hungerford (Morris, N.Y.) helped goalkeeper Angela Bartlett (West Winfield, N.Y.) keep Utica off the board. Bartlett made seven saves in the game and was her usual aggressive self on crosses and corners.

Show Me the Stats

- The Wildcats were out-shot 13-4 in the game by Utica.

- The seven saves by Bartlett brings her career total to 304 (4th all-time).

- Meral Evke's goal was her first of the season and the fourth in her collegiate career.

- Utica's Jenna Mazza landed three of her four shots on goal.

Next Up

The Wildcats will be on the road for their next game. The team will travel north to face Alfred State on Wednesday at 6:00 PM. The Wildcats and the Alfred State Pioneers have never met in women's soccer before.