Utica, NY (4/20/12) – The Utica College women's lacrosse team will travel to Alfred, NY Saturday for an Empire 8 Conference battle against the Alfred University Saxons. Saturday's match-up marks the start of a four game road trip for the Pioneers as they close out the 2012 campaign. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Last Time Out: Utica is coming off of a huge 10-9 win over the previously undefeated Keuka Storm... UC was led by senior Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) who had three goals on the day.

Where We Sit: Utica is now 6-5 overall and 1-3 in the E8... Utica is joined by Elmira (7-5, 1-3 Empire 8) and Hartwick (5-6, 1-3 Empire 8) in a three way tie for fifth place in the conference standings... Alfred (4-7, 0-4 Empire 8) currently sits in last place in the Empire 8 as its still searching for its first conference victory.

Banker Continues Hot Streak: Senior Katlyn Banker (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) continues to stay hot as the regular season is coming to a close... Against Keuka, Banker netted two goals for the Pioneers giving her 34 on the season to go along with her 14 assists... The senior standout has scored at least one goal and has recorded at least two points in every game thus far for the Pioneers.

Santucci Sinks Storm: Maria Santucci (Holliston, MA/Marian) had one of her best games of the year against Keuka on Wednesday... She netted three goals for the second time this season, and she also dished out two helpers, good enough for a five point game tying her season-high, previously set on April, 3 against Medaille College.

Fresh Out of the Gates: Three of the top five point scorers this year have been freshmen... Samantha Gebler (Vestal, NY/Vestal) is second on the team with 12 goals and 12 assists while twin sisters Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) are ranked fourth and fifth with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Barbay In Top Form Again: Senior Shelby Barbay (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) looks to continue her superb season against AU... She stopped nine shots last game against the offensive-minded Keuka Storm... Barbay leads the conference with a .538 save percentage, and is currently ranked third in saves per game with 7.89

Scouting The Saxons: The Saxons are currently on a four game slide after winning four out of their first seven games to start the season... Alfred is led by junior Ali Garcia who has 43 points in eight games and right behind her is freshman Kaitlyn Button who has 41 points on the year... Since 2007, UC is 5-0 all-time against Alfred while outscoring the Saxons by a margin of 67-20.

Next Time Out: The Pioneers return to action on Sunday April, 22 as they travel to Elmira, NY to take on the Elmira College Soaring Eagles... Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.