Utica, NY (9/13/13)- The Utica College field hockey team returns home Saturday as it faces off against Houghton College.  Game time is set for 1 p.m.

Game Coverage: Live video for all home games is available at empire8.tv… Links for live stats for Saturday's contest are available on the Pioneers' schedule page at www.ucpioneers.com… Utica College's student radio station WPNR 90.7 FM will be broadcasting the game and live streaming audio of the contest can be accessed at www.utica.edu/wpnr.

Last Time Out: Wednesday's contest against Hamilton was postponed until Oct. 23, due to weather… In their last game, the Pioneers fell to nationally ranked No. 17 University of Rochester, 3-0, at Gaetano Stadium… Sophomore Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) had 12 saves on the afternoon. 

Leading the Way: Utica (3-1) is led by junior Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) who has netted a conference-best five goals and collected ten points through four games… Freshman Emily Gascon (Chenango Forks, NY/Greene) is second on the squad with eight points (three goals, two assists), followed by junior Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central) who has two goals and two assists.

Balanced Attack: Ten different players have scored at least one goal so far this season… Jessica Franklin (Delevan, NY/Pioneer) and Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) have each found the back of the net twice, while Adriana Surprenant (Utica, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High), Angela Charles (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), Becki Vivacqua (Yorkville, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High), and Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) have each scored once.

Casey Honored: Sophomore net minder Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) was named the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Monday… She helped Utica to a 1-1 record this past week, allowing just three goals in a span of 105 minutes... She made a season-high 12 saves in Utica's loss to No. 18 Rochester on Sunday... She also played the first half against Morrisville on Wednesday and helped the Pioneers to an 8-0 shutout victory… On the season, she has a 2.01 goals against average, a .789 save percentage and a 3-1 overall ledger in the cage.

Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders are 1-3 and coming off a 2-1 loss to Ohio Wesleyan last Saturday… They are led by Adria Bridgewood and Tyler Reese, who have each caged two goals this season… Last year was the first ever meeting between UC and Houghton … Utica came away with a 3-2 victory off goals from Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central), and Angela Charles (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool). 

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers travel to Geneseo on Wednesday for a non-conference match up against the Knights… Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.


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