Utica, NY (9/17/13)- The Utica College women's soccer team hosts cross-town rival, SUNYIT for its home opener Wednesday afternoon.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Game Coverage: Links for live stats, video and audio for Wednesday's contest are available on the Pioneers schedule page at www.ucpioneers.com … UC's student radio station WPNR 90.7 FM will broadcast the contest and live streaming audio of the game can be accessed at www.utica.edu/wpnr ... Live video for the match can be accessed at www.empire8.tv.

Social Media: If you can't make it out to the game make sure to follow live updates on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers … If you are at the game on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #LetsGoUC … You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers.

Last Time Out: Utica is coming off a 0-1-2 week last week...  On Tuesday, the Pioneers tied host D'Youville College, 2-2… Senior Samantha Matthews (Valley Falls, NY/Tamarac) scored the first goal, assisted by classmate Sarah Southwell (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy)… The second tally was an own goal by the Trojans… On Friday, UC fell to Oswego 3-2… Southwell and Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) each scored one goal, while Matthews picked up an assist… On Sunday, UC fought to a scoreless draw against Potsdam.

Enders Garners Empire 8 Honors: Freshman Jamie Enders (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) was named the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Monday… Enders totaled 22 saves in three games last week, including seven saves against Potsdam for her first career shutout… She is currently tied for first in the E8 with 46 saves on the season, and her 7.67 saves per game rank second in the conference.

Leading the Way: Junior Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) leads the team and ranks third in the conference with four goals… Freshman Krystine Alvear (Ossining, NY/Ossining) (two goals) and senior Samantha Matthews (Valley Falls, NY/Tamarac) (one goal, two assists) are tied for second on the team in points (4), followed by Sarah Southwell (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (one goal, one assist).

Scouting SUNYIT: The Wildcats are 0-4 (0-2 NEAC) and they are coming off a 2-0 loss to Lancaster Bible College on Sunday… They have netted just one goal through four games this season. 

All-Time Series: Utica is 13-0 all-time against SUNYIT, including seven shutout victories… Last year the Pioneers downed the Wildcats 2-0… Alexandria Newton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had one goal and Krystine Alvear (Ossining, NY/Ossining) and Sarah Southwell (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) each had one assist. 

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will open up Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday as they travel to Elmira College...  Game time is set for 12 p.m.


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