Utica, NY (1/28/15)- The Utica College women's hockey team heads to Neumann University this weekend for an ECAC West Conference series.  UC will take on the Knights Friday at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: UC split with SUNY Potsdam in a home-and-home series last weekend… The host team won each game as the Pioneers topped the Bears 3-2 at the Aud on Friday, before falling 3-1 at Potsdam on Saturday… Seniors Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) and Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean), as well as junior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) and sophomore Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) each scored one goal on the weekend, while Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) had two assists in the series… Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) turned away 35-of-37 shots she faced in the win on Friday, while Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) made 29 saves on Saturday.
 
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE: Utica is currently sixth in the ECAC West standings with a 4-3-2 record in conference play… The Pioneers are just one point behind fifth ranked SUNY Potsdam, and they also trail third place Oswego State by just five points… Nine of Utica's ten remaining games are in the conference.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Junior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) leads the team with 11 goals and 18 points… Senior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) is second on the squad with 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 13 games.
 
IN THE CREASE: Senior Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) and sophomore Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) have split time in net recently… McNamara has compiled a .92 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average in her last three starts… Goin has a .925 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average in her last three starts. 
 
SCOUTING NEUMANN: The Knights are 3-14-1 overall and 1-11 in the ECAC West… Junior Shanelle Doucette and freshman Bek Lucas lead the team with 15 points each… Utica is 6-5 against Neumann in the last five years… Last season, UC swept the Knights, winning 3-1 and 5-1… Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) had two goals and an assist, while Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning) had three assists on the weekend.
 
SAVE THE DATE: The Pioneers will once again "Go Gold" on Tuesday, February 10 for their 3rd annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness… UC will wear special edition gold jerseys as it takes on SUNY Canton...  The jerseys are currently being auctioned off online (HERE)… All proceeds from the event will be donated to a local family of a child battling cancer, to help offset their medical costs. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers kick off a four-game home stand on Tuesday (7 p.m.) as they host Oswego State to wrap up the season series… Utica's final home weekend will be next Friday and Saturday as it hosts Chatham University… Game times are 4 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.