PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher women's soccer team beat Utica 2-0 on Wednesday night at Growney Stadium behind goals from junior Ryann Dauksza and senior Riley Grimm and a clean sheet from sophomore goalkeeper Sofia Pantoja. 

The Cardinals, 4-3-1 overall, improved to 2-1 in the Empire 8 and snapped a two-game losing skid. Utica fell to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in league play. 

Fisher, which had 20 shots (eight on goal) to Utica's eight (four on goal), put pressure on the Pioneers' defense early, nearly scoring on a header by Dauksza in the 28th minute. Her shot, which came off a corner kick feed from junior Madelyn Wania, bounded off the crossbar. 

The Cardinals – and Dauksza – left no doubt minutes later. Wania sent another corner kick toward a scrum of players from both sides, and Dauksza buried a header for her second goal of the season, which gave Fisher a 1-0 lead. 

Wania helped Fisher put the game away late in the second half with another assist, as she fed Grimm on her third goal of the season. Wania, a transfer from the College of St. Rose, has recorded multiple points in three of the Cardinals' eight games. Her two assists in Wednesday's contest marked a career-high. 

The Pioneers did not generate many high-quality scoring chances throughout, but Pantoja made a game-changing save on one of their few shots on goal. With Fisher leading 1-0, Utica's Bella Noble found herself nearly alone but couldn't put the ball past Pantoja, who finished with four saves in her first collegiate shutout. 

The Cardinals improved to 11-7-4 against the Pioneers since 2005. Wednesday's victory marked their first in the series since a 2-1 victory in 2021 in Utica. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face new Empire 8 member SUNY Poly at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Utica.