Utica, NY (10/23/12)- The Utica College women's soccer team hosts cross-town rival, Hamilton College, Tuesday afternoon for its last home game of the season.  UC will bid farewell to five seniors who have helped lead the team to one of its best records since 2007.  Kick off is scheduled for 4 p.m. on UC's grass soccer field.

Last Time Out: Utica is coming off a 1-0 loss at Hartwick on Saturday… Junior Caitlyn Smith (Waterville, NY/Madison) had five saves in the loss.

Leading the Way: The Pioneers are led by senior Samantha Spohler (East Durham, NY/Cairo Durham) and junior Sarah Southwell (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy)… Spohler has a team-high six goals and two assists, while Southwell has four goals and four assists on the year

Smith Picks Up E8 Accolades: For her efforts last week, goalkeeper Caitlyn Smith (Waterville, NY/Madison) was recently named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week… The Waterville, NY native totaled 22 saves in two games last week for the Pioneers... On Wednesday she made a season-high 17 stops as the Pioneers fell to #4 nationally ranked Ithaca… She followed that up with her five-save performance against Hartwick… She ranks first in the Empire 8 with 145 saves, 41 more than the second place person… She is also second in the conference with a .843 save percentage, and has four shutouts on the season.

Need to Score: After outscoring opponents 15-7 in their first seven games, the Pioneers have only mustered three goals total in the last eight games and have been shut out seven times.

Honoring the Seniors: before the game, UC will pay tribute to its five seniors, Samantha Spohler (East Durham, NY/Cairo Durham), Jaime Hillman (Hornell, NY/Hornell), Marissa Hotaling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Emily Brien (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee), and Kati Stolz (Port Byron, NY/Union Springs)… Spohler has led the Pioneers in scoring in her last two seasons and is currently tied for sixth in the nation with six game winning goals this season…. Hillman is the active leader in career games played and the only member of this year's class to have joined the team as a freshman… Hotaling joined the women's soccer team this year after playing three seasons as the women's hockey goalie.  She registered one goal and one assist in eight games for the Pioneers… Brien has started every game for the Pioneers since transferring in for her junior season.  She netted one goal and has been a staple on the Utica back line... Stolz has played in 12 games in her two-year career at UC, recording one goal.  She scored her first goal for the orange and blue in the Pioneers' 4-1 win over Potsdam.

Scouting Hamilton: The Continentals are 8-4-1 overall and 5-4-1 in the NESCAC… They are coming off a 4-0 loss at Tufts on Saturday… Hamilton is led by senior Alex Rimmer and freshman Hannah Withiam… Rimmer has six goals and two assists, while Withiam has five goals and two helpers on the season… Utica is 2-7-1 against Hamilton since 2002… The Continentals beat UC 4-0 last season.

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers wrap up the season Saturday as they travel to Annandale-On-Hudson, NY for a match up against Bard College… Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.


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