Utica, NY (10/26/12)- The Utica College field hockey team hosts Hartwick College, Saturday for a key Empire 8 Conference match up. This will be the final game of the regular season for UC and will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Where We Sit: The Pioneers are 11-5 overall and 3-3 in the Empire 8… They are in a three-way tie for third place in the conference with Hartwick and W&J.
Playoff Scenarios: The Pioneers will finish in at least fifth place in the Empire 8 standings and have a chance to finish as high as second place… Utica must win Saturday's contest in order to advance to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.
Last Time Out: UC is coming off a 3-1 loss at Oneonta on Wednesday… Sophomore
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) had the lone goal, while freshman
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made nine saves in net.
Game Coverage: Saturday's contest will be streaming live on Empire8.tv and fans can also view live stats at www.ucpioneers.com.
Mackey Magic: Sophomore
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) is second on the team with 11 goals and 31 points… Her nine assists and 31 points rank third in the conference… The Pioneers are 8-1 in games where Mackey scores... She also leads the league with five game-winning goals.
Steele-Norton Can't Be Stopped: Sophomore
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) has been on a tear this season… She currently ranks eighth in the nation with 1.43 goals per game and is tied for 13 nationally with 2.93 points per game… She leads the Empire 8 in goals (21) and points (43) and has broken the College's single-season goal scoring and point scoring records.
Casey Cool and Calm: Freshman
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) has been strong between the pipes for the Pioneers this season… She leads the Empire 8 with a .815 save percentage and a 1.38 goals against average… Casey has compiled a 7-2 record and two shutouts on the year.
Stojkovski Standing Strong: Sophomore
Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) Has totaled five goals and 11 assists for 21 points on the season… She ranks second in the conference in assists and is currently fourth on the College's career assist list… She is also tied for 15th in the country in assists per game (.79).
Teamwork: With 50 goals and 31 assists on the season, the 2012 Pioneers rank third on the College's all-time single-season scoring list… The team needs 12 combined points to tie the 2004 Pioneers for second on the list.
Scouting Hartwick: The Hawks are 6-10 overall and 3-3 in the Empire 8 Conference… They are coming off an 8-1 loss to nationally-ranked No. 13 Skidmore College on Wednesday… Hartwick is led by senior Kelsey Kimble and freshman Katie Lonsky… Kimble has 11 goals and seven assists, while Lonsky has ten goals and three assists on the season.
Against the Hawks: UC is 4-5 against Hartwick dating back to 2003… Last year the Pioneers defeated the Hawks 5-2…
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) had two goals, while
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) and
Marissa Davendonis (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) each added a tally of their own.
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