Utica, NY (10-7-11) – The Utica College field hockey team (7-3, 3-0 Empire 8) is set for the weekend home and away series against Elmira and Brockport. The Pioneers will travel to Elmira, NY on Saturday to face the Soaring Eagles in an Empire 8 Conference match-up at the Murray Athletic Center.  Then, on Sunday, UC will welcome the Golden Eagles of Brockport to Charles A. Gaetano for a non-conference contest.  Both games are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

UCFH FURY: The Pioneers have won five of their last six games, including three tough, one goal, conference victories.  After being shut out by Hamilton on Sept. 14, UC went on a tear, winning its next three games, defeating national powers SUNY Geneseo, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Washington and Jefferson.  Utica currently sits atop the competitive E8 standings at 3-0.

PIONEERS vs. EAGLES:  Since 2005, Utica is 5-1 against the Elmira Soaring Eagles while outscoring them, 22-9, in those games.  Last season, UC shut out EC in Utica, NY, 7-0.  However, The College at Brockport has evened the heads up series with UC, since 2005, with a double overtime win last year and is now 3-3 against the Pioneers in the last six meetings between the two programs.

Scouting the Opponent:  Elmira is currently 1-8 overall including an E8 record of 1-2 and has been outscored 35-6 thus far.  The Soaring Eagles only victory came against St. John Fisher as they defeated the first-year Cardinal program, 2-0.  EC's two conference losses came at the hands of Nazareth (L, 4-1) and Hartwick (L, 5-1).  Brockport presently has an overall record of 7-4 while maintaining a 2-2 mark in the SUNYAC.

Steele-Norton Rock-Solid: Freshman Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School), of Avondale, PA, has stepped in and made an immediate impact for the Pioneers.  She currently leads the squad in scoring as she has totaled 15 points on seven goals and one assist.  In the conference, Steele-Norton is currently tied for first with three game-winning goals, tied for third in goals and is fourth in points. 

Mariano and Mackey Shoot:  Senior Mallory Mariano (Oneida, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) and freshman Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) have 81-of-155 shots and 53-of-104 shots on goal for Utica. They are currently second and third, behind Steele-Norton, in scoring. 
Mariano, seventh on the colleges' all-time scoring list, is first in assists (four), second in points (14) and third in goals (five).  Mackey is second in goals (six) and third in points (13).

Quiet Storm:  Senior goalie Monica Storms (Owego, NY/Owego) is second in the Empire 8 Conference in goals against average (2.33 GaAvg).  Storms was named E8 Conference Goalie of the Week for the week ending Sept. 25 for her solid performance against Geneseo and W & J, allowing just two goals in two games.  She has tallied 61 saves this season while allowing only 19 goals.

UC Back in Action:  Following this weekend, the Pioneers hit the road for three games in eight days.  UC will first travel to Saratoga Springs, NY on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to face Skidmore College which is currently 9-1 overall and 3-0 in Liberty League play.  Next, on Saturday Oct. 15, UC gears up for conference rival Hartwick College who currently holds a 4-6 overall record including a 2-1 mark in E8 play.  Utica wraps its road trip on Wednesday, Oct. 19 as they challenge Liberty League member RPI in Troy, NY.  Rensselaer currently has an overall record of 5-3 while maintaining a 2-1 mark in the Liberty League.