UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's soccer team hits the road this weekend for an Empire 8 Conference set.  UC will face Alfred University on Saturday and St. John Fisher College on Sunday.  Saturday's game is scheduled for 12 p.m. and Sunday's contest is set to start at 1 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers lost a close non-conference matchup 2-1 against visiting Clarkson University on Tuesday… UC struck first 15 minutes into the first half, but gave up the tying goal five minutes later and Clarkson netted the game winner off of a corner at the end of the first half... Junior Ciara McIlvenney (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) ended a three-game home goal-scoring drought in the first half putting Utica in the lead… In the second half, trailing by one McIlvenney had a shot that looked like it was going into the upper right corner but sailed just over the crossbar... She has four points on the year off of two goals.
 
Youth on Offense: For UC 19 of the 29 points on the year have been tallied by sophomores and freshmen… The team leader in points is freshman Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) (8 points) whose four goals rank seventh in the conference… Mazza is the second highest scoring freshman in the E8 behind Stevens' Zisi Komar (six goals) …  Freshman Abby Reilly (Brookfield, NY/Brookfield) and sophomore Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) both have two goals… While freshman Gabrielle Esposito (Rotterdam, NY/Mohonasen) has added three points to the mix off of one goal and one assist. 
 
Goalie By Committee: The Pioneers have used the tandem of junior Jamie Enders (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia) and sophomore Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) in the net… Beattie (.787) and Enders (.770) are ranked sixth and seventh in the conference in save percentage, respectively… Beattie is also third in saves per game (6.17) and seventh in shutouts per game (.167… Enders ranks sixth in shutouts per game (.111) and saves per game (5.22).
 
Scouting Alfred University: The Saxons are 1-10-1 overall with an Empire 8 record of 0-3-0… Alfred is coming off of a 5-0 loss to conference opponent Nazareth… The Saxons are on an eight-game losing streak … Alfred is led by sophomore Lauren Wyant (two goals, one assist) and freshman Ally Hendel (two goals).
 
Against the Saxons: Utica College is 4-1-0 against Alfred over the last five years… UC last lost to the Saxons in 2012, 1-0 in double overtime… The Pioneers have won the last two contests, 2-1 in 2013 and 4-1 last year... Senior Maddisen Melley (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) had two goals, while classmate Maddison Vitale (Ilion, NY/Ilion) had an assist in last year's meeting. 
 
Scouting St. John Fisher: The Cardinals are 4-6-1 overall with an Empire 8 record of 1-2-0… St. John Fisher has lost its last two games, both by 3-1 scores, to conference opponent Hartwick College, and against non-conference opponent, SUNY Fredonia… The Cardinals are led by juniors Nicolette Nigro (four goals, one assist) and Carly Finn (two goals, four assists).
 
Against the Cardinals: The Pioneers are 0-5 over the last five years against St. John Fisher… The last time UC beat the Cardinals was a 3-1 victory in 2007.
 
Looking Ahead: UC will host Empire 8 opponent Houghton College next Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium … The game is scheduled for 4 p.m.