Utica, NY (12/5/13)- The Utica College women's hockey team is set for its final game before the winter break as it takes on cross-town rival, Hamilton College Friday night at the Clinton Ice Arena in nearby Clinton, NY.  The contest marks Utica's second annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: UC is coming off a conference sweep over Buffalo State last weekend… UC took both games by identical 5-1 scores… Eight different players tallied at least one goal on the weekend… Senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) led the team with three goals and three assists… Sophomore Mackenzie Roy (Clinton, NY/Clinton) netted her first collegiate goal and junior Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) made 18 saves for her first collegiate win in her first ever start.

GO GOLD FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS: This is the second time the Pioneers have teamed up with the Shawn Grady Fund for their gold ribbon game to promote childhood cancer awareness… This year, both Hamilton and Utica College will wear special edition white, blue, and gold jerseys for the game… The jerseys are currently being auctioned off online and will also be available to be bid on in the arena the night of the game... The minimum bid is $100 with a "Buy it Now" price of $200… All proceeds from the event will be donated to help ease the medical costs of a local family who is currently battling the disease… Last year the Pioneers were able to raise $2,010 for the family of 8-year-old Alex McLaughlin, of Barneveld, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in August 2011. 

ON A STREAK: The Pioneers are currently on a five-game winning streak… The last time UC lost was the first weekend of the season, on Nov. 10, in a 3-1 loss to defending national champion, Elmira College… Senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) and sophomore Morgan reed have each opened the year on seven-game scoring streaks… Myers leads the team in goals (six), assists (seven), and points (13)… Reed has three goals and seven assists for 10 points… Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) and Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Boston Jr. Shamrocks) have both recorded at least one point in each of the last five games. 

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) ranks fifth nationally with 1.86 points per game… She is also 10th in the country in assists per game (1.00) and 11th in goals per game (.86)… Senior Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School)'s .86 points per game is tenth in the nation amongst defensemen and Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) is second nationally in scoring amongst freshmen (1.29 points per game)… As a team, the Pioneers rank sixth nationally with 3.86 goals per game. 

HELPING OUT: 11 different players have found the back of the net at least once this season… Aside from the previously mentioned, Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean), Caitlyn Moccaldi (Clinton, NY/Clinton High School Boys), Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire), Mackenzie Roy (Clinton, NY/Clinton), and Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) have also scored.

SHUTTING THE DOOR: The Pioneers have received great goaltending so far this season… Senior Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) has started all but one game, collecting a 4-2 record, .923 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average to go along with one shutout… Junior Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) stopped 18 of 19 shots she faced in her lone start this season

SCOUTING HAMILTON: The Continentals are 2-3-1 overall and they are coming off a 2-1 win over Oswego on Nov. 26… Senior Gigi Fraser and freshman Katie Parkman each have a team-high five points… Fraser has four goals and one assist, while Parkman has netted two goals and three assists. 

ALL-TIME SERIES: UC is 9-8-2 all-time against Hamilton… Last year the teams split with the Continentals winning 3-1 at the Aud, before UC won 5-4 at Sage Arena… Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) totaled two goals and one assist, while Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) had one goal and two assists, and Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) had one goal and one assist in the series. 

LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers have nearly a full month off before they return to action… Following the winter break, UC starts the second half of the season with three straight home games… The first will be on Saturday, Jan. 4 as Utica hosts SUNY Canton in non-conference action… Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.


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