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UTICA, N.Y. -- Host Utica scored the game-winning goal with 3:32 left in the second overtime period Saturday as the Pioneers remained unbeaten in Empire 8 field hockey action with a 4-3 victory over Nazareth.

Utica improved to 3-0 in the Empire 8 Conference and 6-3 overall. Nazareth, which plays a non-conference game at St. Lawrence Sunday, dropped to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Utica's Louise Norton-Steele scored the game-winning goal, her second of the game and sixth of the season, off an assist from Alaina Stojkovski to thwart a valiant comeback effort by the Golden Flyers, who rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit to force overtime.

The Golden Flyers got second-half goals from Elise Maryanopolis, Lindsey Smith and Alexis Root to erase the three-goal disadvantage. Root's goal was her third of the season and came off an assist from Nina Fargnoli with 6:50 to play in regulation to tie the score at 3-3. Root and Haley Potter had assists for Nazareth in the second half.

Utica then dominated the overtime periods by outshooting Nazareth 10-0 before finally breaking through for the game-winning score.

Norton-Steele also had a goal and an assist in the first half as the Pioneers built a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 advantage. Alee Straub and Hannah Mackey also scored for Utica with Mallory Mariano picking up a pair of assists.

Utica had a 24-14 advantage in shots overall, although Nazareth had 19 penalty corners to Utica's 15. Freshman Sophia Rhoades played 96-plus minutes in goal and made seven saves.