Utica, N.Y. 10/28/2010 – The Utica College field hockey team travels to Washington and Jefferson College (13-3, 4-1 E8) on Saturday to take on the President's in an Empire 8 Conference contest at 10 a.m. With a win the Pioneers will clinch the top seed, and the right to host, in the Empire 8 Tournament for the first-time since the tournament's inception in 2007.

Utica, which has won four of its last five games, is 8-8 on the season, and 4-1 in conference play. They defeated Nazareth, Stevens, Hartwick, and Elmira. Washington & Jefferson has won nine of its last ten games and currently ranks fifth in the North Atlantic Regional rankings. Their lone conference loss came at the hands of Stevens Institute of Technology.

Junior Mallory Mariano (Oneida, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) leads the team in points on the season with 18 (eight goals, four assists). Senior Lindsey Jester (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) is second on the team in goals with seven and she also has three assists. Senior Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) has two game-winning goals and one assist on the year.

Junior Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego), Utica's starting goalie, has an 8-7 record with two shutouts. Her goals against average is 1.56, and she has a .797 save percentage.

The Pioneers have been terrific in the second half of games this season, outscoring their opponents 14-8.

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