UTICA, NY – The Utica College field hockey team will play host to visiting Empire 8 Conference opponent Washington and Jefferson College this Saturday. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: Utica improved to 4-8 on the season as it had a decisive win over Brockport, 4-0, Wednesday … After a goal late in the first half the Pioneers added three insurance goals in the second half on their way to victory... Meghan McCormick (Ava, NY/RFA), Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Tiffany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), and Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) each scored in the win, while Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) collected her second career shutout.  
 
Win Big: In three out of the four victories this season Utica has scored four goals and shutout two opponents … In those three games the Pioneers have put up 35 of their 55 total points... Utica is fourth in the conference in points on the season.
 
Shoot To Score: UC tied a season-high 24 shots on goal against Brockport, matching its 24-shot game against Nazareth that went to double overtime… Utica is first in the conference in shots (188) and shots on goal (141)… Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) and Meghan McCormick (Ava, NY/RFA) are fourth and fifth in the conference for shots, respectively… Dowling is seventh in the conference for shots per game (3.50) while McCormick is ninth (3.25).
 
Freshmen Power: The Pioneers have five freshmen in the top 10 in points on the team so far this year… Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) leads the squad with 11 points (five goals, one assist)… Meelan is 10^th in the conference in goals (five) and the second highest goal-scoring freshman in the conference, behind Fisher's Lauren Fazio (six)… Tiffany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) and Rebecca Kauffman (Mount Joy, PA/Linden Hall) each have four points off of two goals while Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) and Brittany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) have three points (one goal, one assist).
 
Veteran Presence: Junior forward McCormick is second on the team with 10 points (four goals, two assists), while Dowling is third on the team with 8 points (two goals, four assists)… Senior Tori Couture (Auburn, ME/Edward Little ) has four points off of one goal and two assists.
 
In The Net: Senior Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) and sophomore Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) are in the net for UC… Casey has started in 11 games has 88 saves, a save percentage of .752, is third in the conference in average saves per game (8.00) and second in the conference in saves… Whitehouse has appeared in five games, while starting one… She has 20 saves and a save percentage of .833… Whitehouse is fourth in the conference in save percentage and sixth in shutouts per game (.167).
 
Scouting Washington and Jefferson: The Presidents are 4-6 overall with a 1-2 Empire 8 Conference record… Washington and Jefferson is currently on a four-game losing streak… The Presidents are led by juniors Amanda Steffey, Lauren Brown, and freshman Rachel Buyan who each have eight points off of three goals and two assists.
 
Recent Years Against The Presidents: UC is 3-4 against Washington and Jefferson in the last five years including two Empire 8 Tournament loses in 2010 and 2011…The Pioneers have beaten the Presidents in the last two match-ups.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers hit the road as they take on Empire 8 opponent Stevens next Saturday… The game is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Broadcast Info:  Select Utica College home games are broadcast over the air and online by Utica College's student radio station, WPNR 90.7 FM… Make sure to catch live video, audio and stats on Pioneers All-Access: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.

Social Media: Make sure to follow live updates of all the action on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers … If you are at the games and on Twitter, or talking about the games on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.