Utica, NY (1/2/14)- The Utica College women's hockey team looks to carry its six-game winning streak into the New Year as it faces non-conference opponent SUNY Canton in a home-and-home series this weekend.  The teams will meet in Canton at 3 p.m. on Friday before traveling to Utica for a 7 p.m. tilt on Saturday. 

BEFORE BREAK: UC is currently riding the highs of a six-game winning streak that started with a 5-2 win over SUNY Cortland on Nov. 15… Most recently, the Pioneers topped Hamilton College 3-2 in overtime in UC's second annual gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness… Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) extended her point scoring streak to eight games as she scored the opening goal, while Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) tallied her first of the year and Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) added the game winner 44 seconds into overtime for her third game-winner of the season…  The teams were able to raise $3,979 for the family of 16 year-old Sydney McEvoy, of Illion, who was diagnosed with Lymphoma in May.

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The Pioneers are just outside the top-10 in the most recent USCHO.com national poll… UC is currently second in the "receiving votes" category with four votes, two behind Bethel University (MN)…Senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) ranks ninth nationally and second in the conference with 1.75 points per game… The forward has tallied at least one point in every game so far and leads the squad with seven goals and 14 points… Classmate Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School) is 10th in the country in scoring amongst defensemen (.88 points per game) and freshman Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) is second nationally in freshman scoring (1.25 points per game)… As a team, the Pioneers boast the eighth best offense in the country, averaging 3.75 goals per game.   

HELPING OUT: Sophomore Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) is tied with Myers for the team-lead with seven assists… She also has three goals and has tallied at least one point in seven of eight games so far this season… Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Boston Jr. Shamrocks) and Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) have nine and eight points, respectively… Schwartz also has two game-winners this season.

HELLO, OLD FRIEND: UC women's hockey alumnae and former assistant coach, Melissa Lomanto '06 will be behind the bench for SUNY Canton… The Roos are in their first varsity season... The Pioneers previously played against Lomanto in November of 2009, when she was the head coach of the Adrian College Bulldogs... Lomanto had 38 career goals in her four years as captain of the Pioneers and played in every game during her four-year career at UC.

SCOUTING CANTON: The Roos are currently 4-7-2 overall and have lost their last five contests… Most recently, Canton dropped a series at Franklin Pierce University on Dec. 13 and 14… The Roos have proven to be a tough match at their rink as they are undefeated on home ice (3-0-1) this season… Canton is led by freshman Jessica Kistabish and sophomore Karley Cree… Kistabish has seven goals and six assists for 13 points and Cree has 12 points (five goals, seven assists). 

LOOKING AHEAD: UC returns to action next weekend as it hosts Norwich University on Saturday and Manhattanville College Sunday afternoon… Both games are scheduled for 4 p.m.


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