Utica, NY (2/8/13)- The Utica College women's hockey team travels to Buffalo State this weekend for its final ECAC West games of the regular season. Saturday's contest is set for 4 p.m. while Sunday's game will begin at 2 p.m.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers are fresh off a 5-4 win at Hamilton on Tuesday… Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) had a goal and two assists, while sophomore Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) netted two goals, and Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) and Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) chipped in with a goal and assist each… Sophomore Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) also added two helpers on the day.

Around the League: The Pioneers (11-7-2, 8-4-2 ECAC West) are currently third in the ECAC West Conference standings behind nationally ranked No. 1 Plattsburgh (20-0-2, 12-0-1 ECAC West) and No. 3 Elmira (18-3-1, 12-2 ECAC West)… Oswego sits in fourth place with an 8-4 conference record, followed by Cortland (6-8), Neumann (4-8), Potsdam (3-7-1), Buffalo Sate (2-10), and Chatham (0-12).

Recent Success: UC is 7-1-2 in its last ten contests… The lone loss came by way of a 3-0 defeat at No. 1 Plattsburgh last weekend… UC has outscored opponents 30-14 over the stretch, including four shutouts… The Pioneers are also receiving votes in the latest USCHO.com online poll… Utica collected four votes to put them amongst the top 15 teams in the nation… The team also ranks first in the nation in penalty killing, after successfully killing 94-of-101 penalties.

Viva Las Vegas: Junior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) recently became just the third player in program history to score 50 goals in her career… The forward also needs just five points to reach 100 career points… She is fourth in the conference with 1.22 points per game. 

“Hamming” It Up: Junior Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) was named ECAC West Goalie of the Week, Monday after making 30 saves to help the Pioneers tie No. 1 Plattsburgh… On the season, she ranks fifth in the conference with a 1.91 goals against average and has compiled a .915 save percentage.

Call Me “May”be: Sophomore Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire) leads the team and is tied for third in the conference with 14 assists… She also ranks fourth in the league in scoring amongst defensemen (.70 points per game)… May is also tied for second on the squad with 14 points.

Schwartz Heating Up: Sophomore Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) is tied for second on the team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists)… She has netted four goals and two assists in her last four games.

Scouting Buffalo State: The Bengals are 5-15-1 overall and 2-10 in the conference… They suffered two losses at Cortland last weekend… Buff State is led by senior Courtney Carnes and Kara Goodwin… Carnes has a team-high 10 assists and 14 points… Goodwin has netted five goals and five assists. 

Against the Bengals: The Pioneers are 22-2-1 all-time against Buffalo State… Last year the Pioneers topped the Bengals 3-1 and 9-0 on Feb. 17 and 18… Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) totaled four goals and four assists on the weekend, while classmate Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Boston Jr. Shamrocks) had a hat trick in the second game.

Looking Ahead: Utica will host Cortland State in the final home game of the regular season on Tuesday… The Pioneers have teamed up with the Shawn Grady Fund to host the first ever “Gold Ribbon Game” for childhood cancer awareness... UC will be wearing collector's edition white and gold jerseys for the game… The jerseys will be auctioned off with all proceeds donated to help ease the medical costs of a local family currently dealing with the disease.


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