Utica, NY (11/25/13)- After three consecutive victories, the Utica College women's hockey team looks to run that mark to six as it visits SUNY Canton on Tuesday, before returning home to take on ECAC West opponent Buffalo State on Saturday and Sunday. The home contests will begin at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

LAST TIME OUT: Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back as it beat NESCAC opponent Williams College 4-2 last Friday evening at the Aud... Four Pioneers had a goal in the game, including Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks), Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean), Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers), and Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects)... Myers also had an assist on the game-winning goal by Schwartz, while Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) stopped 37 of 39 shots in the win.

GOALS, GOALS FOR EVERYBODY!: Through five games, nine different UC skaters have at least one goal... Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) and Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) lead the Pioneers with three apiece... Three freshmen already have their first collegiate goal, including Schnepp, Coope, and Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire).

FROM THE FIELD TO THE ICE: As their postseason run on the field came to an end in the NCAA round of sixteen, two members of the Empire 8 champion Utica College field hockey team made their return to the ice last weekend... Junior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School), who was an All-Region selection for the UC field hockey team, will look to make an impact on the ice after finishing second on the team with seven goals last season… Meanwhile, Nicole Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning) will add to the Pioneer blue line after collecting four points in 17 games one year ago.

HELLO, OLD FRIEND: UC women's hockey alumnae and former assistant coach, Melissa Lomanto '06 will be behind the bench for SUNY Canton on Tuesday… The Roos are in their first varsity season... The Pioneers previously played against Lomanto in November of 2009, when she was the head coach of the Adrian College Bulldogs... Lomanto had 38 career goals in her four-year career at Utica, was captain all four years, and played in every game during her career as a Pioneer. 

ON THE BRINK: The Pioneers are on the brink of cracking the top-10 in the national coaches poll… UC is at the top of the receiving votes category, tied with Adrian College… Utica has already played fourth-ranked Elmira College, and still faces four more teams that are currently ranked in the top ten in the country. 

GOLD RUSH: Bidding is currently underway for the 2013-2014 Gold Ribbon game jerseys... The jerseys will be worn by both teams as Utica plays Hamilton at the Clinton Arena on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Bidding starts at $100, with a "buy it now" price of $200... Bidding will conclude at the start of the third period the night of the game... Proceeds will benefit the Shawn Grady Fund, and the money will help ease the medical costs of local families who have children with cancer... For more information, or to bid on a jersey, please visit the women's hockey page on ucpioneers.com.

SCOUTING CANTON: In its inaugural season, Canton enters Tuesday's game with a 4-2-2 record... The Roos are winners of their last three, and are led by Jessica Kistabish's five goals... Between the pipes, Shayna Dominique has a save percentage of .935 and a goals against average of 1.89.

SCOUTING BUFFALO STATE: The Bengals are currently 0-7 under first year head coach Candice Moxley… Sophomore Nikki Kirchberger has five goals to lead the offense… The Pioneers are 24-3-1 all-time against Buff State… Last year, the teams split the season series… Utica won the first game 4-0 before falling 2-1 in overtime in the second game… Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) had two goals and an assist, while Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) and Caitlyn Moccaldi (Clinton, NY/Clinton High School Boys) each scored one goal on the weekend. 

ON TAP: The Gold Ribbon Game against Hamilton will be the final game before the semester break… Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Clinton Arena. 


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