Utica, NY (10/21/14)- The Utica College women's soccer team returns to action Wednesday as it travels to Bard College for a non-conference contest.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a big 4-1 win over Alfred University as part of the College's homecoming weekend on Saturday… Senior Maddisen Melley (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) netted two goals while classmate Jenna Hughes (Brookfield, NY/Brookfield) tallied a goal and an assist and Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) scored her fifth of the year… Maddison Vilate also registered one assist on the day and Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) and Kelly Heimerle (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) combined for four saves in net. 
 
MELLEY EARNS EMPIRE 8 HONORS: For her efforts last week, senior Maddisen Melley (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) was named the Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, Monday… Melley scored two goals, including the game winner in the Pioneers' E8 win over Alfred… She also helped lead the Utica defense that allowed just one goal each game last week… Melley leads the team with six goals and is second on the squad with 12 points… She is also tied for the conference lead with four game winning goals.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Senior Alana Fitzpatrick (Cheshire, CT/Holy Cross) leads the team with 13 points and 35 shots and she is second in goals (five)… Fitzpatrick is also eighth in the Empire 8 with 2.50 shots per game. 
 
DOING IT ALL: Freshman Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) has seen action in the midfield and as a goalkeeper this year… She leads the team with four assists and is third in both points (eight) and goals (two)… Berkowitz has also collected 17 saves while starting the last three games in goal.  
 
SCOUTING BARD: The Raptors are 4-11-1 and they are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Clarkson… Bard has played two of the same opponents as Utica… Utica defeated Clarkson 1-0 earlier this season, while Bard lost to the Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime… Bard also defeated Hartwick 1-0, while the Pioneers lost to the Hawks 3-1… The Raptors are led by freshman Avalon Qian, who has five goals and 11 points on the year. 
 
AGAINST THE RAPTORS: Utica is 1-2 against Bard since 2011… Utica defeated Bard 3-2 in overtime three years ago, but the Raptors have had the Pioneers' number more recently, winning 3-0 in 2012 and 2-0 in 2013.
 
LOOKING AHEAD:  The Pioneers will travel to Rochester on Saturday to take on Naz in Empire 8 action.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.