UTICA, N.Y. – Hamilton College's
Luke Ehrenfreund '25 recorded a hat trick and the Continentals cruised past the Utica University Pioneers 4-0 in non-conference action on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Utica's Casamento Field.
Season Update
- Hamilton improved to 3-3-2 overall with its second straight shutout.
- Utica, which is a member of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference, moved to 2-4-2 overall.
How It Happened
- Luke Peplowski '25 opened the scoring 14:15 into the first half. The Continentals claimed possession after a Pioneer throw-in and Aedan Burke '26 fired a hard shot that was blocked. Peplowski rebounded the loose ball and slipped it past Utica's Foti Xidias into the lower-right corner.
- Ehrenfreund extended Hamilton's lead in the 25th minute after a long pass from Lucas O'Dowd '25. Hamilton took control around midfield and O'Dowd bounced it into the box to Ehrenfreund for a one-touch goal.
- Hamilton added its third goal of the half less than four minutes later. Peplowski sent a beautiful pass downfield to Charles Hawthorn '25 who chipped it into the box. Ehrenfreund connected on a header up and over the hands of Xidias for a 3-0 cushion.
- Ehrenfreund completed his hat trick nine minutes into the second half. He received the ball in the left corner, swerved around a pair of defenders and cut to the middle. Ehrenfreund placed his shot in the lower-right corner.
- The Continentals outshot the Pioneers 10-8 including 6-2 in the opening 45 minutes.
- Utica held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Notes
- Hamilton has shut out Utica in eight consecutive matches and has won the last 10 meetings.
- Head Coach Perry Nizzi recorded his 200th career win with the Continentals.
- Ehrenfreund posted his first career hat trick and leads the team with four goals and 10 points.
- Peplowski registered his second goal of the season and the eighth of his career.
- O'Dowd chipped in his first collegiate assist.
- Hawthorn dished out his first assist of the season and the fourth of his career.
- 30 Continentals saw action on the pitch.
- Kai Haesslein '24 and Finn Wheeler '27 combined on Hamilton's third shutout. Wheeler tallied one save in 27 minutes after he relieved Haesslein.
- Xidias made one save for the Pioneers and Eduardo Paez added three stops in the second half.
Next Match
The Continentals resume NESCAC play with a home match against Connecticut College (5-0-2, 1-0-2 NESCAC) on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m.