Utica, NY (2/9/10)- The Utica College women's hockey team is set to host SUNY Canton Tuesday evening in the Pioneers' third annual Shawn Grady Fund Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness.  The contest also marks the last regular season home game UC will play.  Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utica is coming off an ECAC Conference sweep over Chatham last weekend… The Pioneers downed the Cougars 2-0 on Friday behind a 20-save shutout from Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) and one goal each from Samantha Pucci (Pearl River, NY/Connecticut Polar Bears) and Kelly Critzer (West Salem, OH/Ohio Flames)… On Saturday, sophomore Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) led the Pioneers with two goals, while Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) had two assists… Freshman Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine's Chaos) had one goal and one assist and classmate Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) had the other goal as UC won 4-3. 
 
GOLD RIBBON GAME INFO: This marks the third straight year the Pioneers have teamed up with the Shawn Grady Fund for their gold ribbon game to promote childhood cancer awareness… In the past two seasons, Utica has been able to donate nearly $6,000 to the families of local children who are battling cancer… The special edition gold jerseys that the Pioneers are wearing are currently being auctioned off in the concourse… All proceeds will once again be donated to the family of a child who is battling cancer to help cover their medical costs. 
 
SHAWN GRADY FUND: The Shawn Grady Fund is a non-profit organization created by the Grady family of nearby Clinton, NY to help the families of local children that suffer from life-threatening illnesses. The Fund is dedicated to the memory of Shawn Grady who was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of his sophomore year in High School. After a courageous battle, Shawn died of cancer complications at the age of 16. During his long illness, the entire community pitched in to help the Grady family defray the tremendously high medical costs. As a fitting memorial to their son, the Grady's established the Fund as their way of giving something back to the community that offered so much support in their time of need.  To find out more information about the Shawn Grady Fund, visit ShawnGradyFund.org.
 
"COOPE" THERE IT IS: Sophomore Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) is coming off a three-point weekend.  On Saturday, she assisted on the second goal as UC topped Chatham 2-0… She followed that up with two goals, including the game-winner with less than a second remaining to lift Utica to a 4-3 victory over the Cougars… She has five goals and five assists on the season.
 
STILL "GOIN" STRONG: Sophomore Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) allowed just four goals in three games last week… On Tuesday, she turned aside 26-of-27 shots in a 1-0 loss to Oswego…  She followed that up with a 20-save shutout over Chatham on Friday… Goin capped off the week with 25 saves in a 4-3 win over the Cougars… On the season, she has compiled a .924 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average. 
 
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Utica (8-8-4) is currently fourth in the ECAC West Conference standings with a 6-5-3 mark in league play… There are two weeks left in the regular season… UC will travel to nationally ranked No. 2 Plattsburgh this weekend… The Pioneers wrap up the regular season at Buffalo State, which is currently just one point behind Utica in the conference standings.
 
SCOUTING CANTON: The Roos are 2-19-1 on the year… They are coming off a 7-1 loss to Salve Regina on Jan. 30… Canton is led by sophomore Lora Ardoin, who has eight goals and six assists on the year… Utica defeated Canton 3-1 earlier this season… Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) each had a goal and an assist, while Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) scored the game-winner. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers face a tough test this weekend as they travel to nationally ranked No. 2 Plattsburgh… The teams will meet at 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  


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