Utica, NY (9/24/13)- The Utica College field hockey team looks to continue its win streak as it travels to nationally ranked No. 12 Skidmore College on Wednesday.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Last Time Out: Utica (6-1, 1-0 Empire 8) is coming off a 4-0 conference-opening win over St. John Fisher College on Saturday… Junior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) had two goals, while classmates Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) and Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) each had one goal… Freshman Emily Gascon (Chenango Forks, NY/Greene) also added one assist on the day.

Steele-Norton Captures Record: With four goals last week, Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) broke the College's career goal scoring record of 46 goals and became just the second player in program history to record 100 points (48 goals, four assists) in a career... She is currently second all-time in career points, and needs just 11 points to become the highest scorer in UC history… For her efforts, she was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week on Monday… On the season, she ranks second in the conference with six goals and is tied for third in the E8 with 13 points.

Mackey Making a Name for Herself: Junior Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) leads the conference in goals (seven), points (17), and points per game (2.43)… She recently took sole possession of fourth place on the all-time scoring list with 90 points… She needs just ten points to become the third player to reach the 100-point plateau.

Stojkovski Steady in the Midfield: Junior Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) has continued her impressive play from last season… Last year's assist leader has totaled nine points so far on four goals and one assist and has helped lead the Pioneer offense that is averaging 4.43 goals per game.  

Spreading the Wealth: Ten different players have scored at least one goal this season… Freshman Emily Gascon (Chenango Forks, NY/Greene) is tied for third on the team with nine points (three goals, three assists)… Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central), Becki Vivacqua (Yorkville, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High), Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Jessica Franklin (Delevan, NY/Pioneer), Adriana Surprenant (Utica, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High), and Angela Charles (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) have also chipped in on goal-scoring duties. 

Scouting Skidmore: The Thoroughbreds are 6-1 overall (1-0 Liberty League) and they are riding the highs of a five-game win streak… They cruised to an 8-0 victory over RPI on Saturday… Skidmore is led by senior All-American Kelly Blackhurst and sophomore Dani DeGregory… Blackhurst has netted an impressive 27 points, including a team-high 11 goals, while DeGregory is second on the squad with 23 points (seven goals, nine assists). 

Against the Thoroughbreds: UC is 2-10 against Skidmore dating back to 2001… Last year the Pioneers defeated the Thoroughbreds 2-1 at home on Oct. 10… Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) scored both goals, while Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) had one assist… Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) had 16 saves in net for UC. 

Up Next: The Pioneers return to action Saturday as they host Nazareth College for an Empire 8 Conference contest… Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.


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