ROCHESTER, NY – Utica’s Kerry Walsh scored in 83^rd minute lifting the #3 seeded Pioneers to a 1-0 win over #2 seed RIT in Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Tournament action.

Utica advances to the Empire 8 title game where they will face Nazareth College on Saturday, November 4 in Utica, New York.

RIT controlled the majority of the play in the opening portion of the first half. Alaina Chorney (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) had a great opportunity with about 17 minutes to play. She gathered a rebound and had a shot but just tipped the rebound wide of the net.

Utica’s best chance came with about 10 minutes to play. Stephanie Martin rifled a shot from just inside the penalty area. RIT keeper Ashley Conti (Canfield, OH/Canfield) (Canfield, OH/Canfield) stood her ground and tipped the ball over the cross-bar keeping the score at 0-0.

RIT kept the pressure on in the second half. Anna Kolnik (Sharon, WI/Big Foot) (Sharon, WI/Big Foot) had a great look with about 13 minutes remaining in regulation. She deflected a cross on goal that Ashley Kaufman gobbled up.

Utica took advantage of one of their few scoring chances. Kerry Walsh gathered in a loose ball from the top of the penalty area and rifled a shot that found the bottom left corner of the goal, just out of the reach of Ashley Conti (Canfield, OH/Canfield).

RIT falls to 7-8-3 overall and will await a possible berth in the ECAC Upstate Tournament. Utica improves to 9-7-1 on the season.