Utica, NY (9/4/14)- The Utica College field hockey team returns to action this weekend as it travels to New Paltz for a match up against the Hawks. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: UC is coming off an opening weekend sweep, defeating St. Lawrence 5-1, before downing the College of Wooster 7-3 last weekend… Senior
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) tallied seven goals on the weekend, while classmates
Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central) and
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) each had two goals…
Becki Vivacqua (Yorkville, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High) added the other goal for the Pioneers and
Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) tallied one assist.
MACKEY EARNS E8 & ECAC HONORS: After netting seven goals in two games last weekend,
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) was named the Empire 8 Conference and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week… She is currently second all-time with 55 goals, and just passed teammate
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) for first on the College's all-time scoring list with 133 career points.
DOUBLE-TROUBLE: The Pioneers are led by the senior duo of
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) and
Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School)… Mackey and Steele-Norton have each been voted first team All-Conference the last three seasons… Mackey was also the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year as a freshman and was named a third team All-American last fall… Steele-Norton was the Empire 8 and North Atlantic Region Player of the year as a sophomore, as well as a first team All-America selection… The duo ranks first and second all-time at UC in three major statistical categories… Steele-Norton has a program-best 62 goals, including a record 15 game-winners, and currently has 132 career points… Mackey has 55 career goals, 133 points, and 14 game-winning goals… Utica is 25-2 all-time when both Mackey and Steele-Norton score at least one goal.
SENIORS SETTING THE EXAMPLE: All 12 goals last weekend were scored by seniors… UC has 11 seniors on the team including Mackey, Steele-Norton, 2012 Empire 8 Tournament MVP
Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse),
Amanda Muldoon (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool),
Chasity Eckert (Afton, NY/Afton Central),
Becki Vivacqua (Yorkville, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High),
Angela Charles (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool),
Amanda Vitro (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central),
Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy),
Adriana Surprenant (Utica, NY/New York Mills Jr-Sr High), and
Olivia Cunningham (Bethlehem, NH/Profile)… This group has helped Utica to a 43-19 record in the last three seasons.
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SCOUTING NEW PALTZ: The Hawks have won the last two SUNYAC championships… Last year, they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before falling to eventual National Champion, Bowdoin College, 5-2… New Paltz has not allowed a goal yet this season, as it is 2-0 so far… The Hawks defeated Western Connecticut State 4-0 last Saturday, and are coming off a 3-0 victory over William Paterson University on Wednesday… Junior Dani Ackerman has a team-high three goals.
AGAINST THE HAWKS: Utica is 4-0 all-time against New Paltz… The Last meeting between the teams was in 2005, when UC won 6-2.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend's game, the Pioneers will host Empire 8 Conference foe, Hartwick College for their home-opener next Saturday… Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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