Utica, NY- The Utica College field hockey team begins its quest for a record fourth straight Empire 8 Conference Championship on Tuesday, September 1 as it takes on Kean University.
2014 RECAP: The Pioneers are coming off a record breaking season that saw them capture their third consecutive Empire 8 Championship, the program's first-ever 8-0 regular season conference record, and hosting rights for an NCAA first round game for the third year in a row... UC also set new marks for wins (18), points (232), and goals (92) in a season… Seniors
Hannah Mackey (Locke, NY/Moravia Central) and
Alaina Stojkovski (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) were named All-Americans after combining for 110 points for the Pioneers.
IN THE CAGE: Utica welcomes back its standout goalie duo of
Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) and
Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich)… Casey, the program's career win leader (40), has compiled a 1.56 goals against average and she is currently just three shutouts shy of the College's career record of 14, held by Jenny Lounsberry '05… Whitehouse started four games for UC, collecting a 5-1 record, and a team best 1.12 goals against average and .811 save percentage as a freshman… Also competing for time in net will be senior
Caitlyn Strapach (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs).
DOWLING LEADING THE WAY: The midfield will rely on veteran experience from senior
Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport), who has started 63 of 64 games in her first three seasons... Dowling, a second team All-Region selection during her junior campaign, has totaled 15 goals and 52 points in her career.
BACK END: Senior
Taylor Lukins (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport Central) and junior
Jessica Smith (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) helped lead the Utica defense that allowed just 1.48 goals per game one year ago… The tandem played in a combined total of 38 games last season.
SUPPORTING CAST: Utica returns 14 players from last year's squad… Apart from Dowling, Casey, Whitehouse, Strapach, Smith, and Lukins,
Rachael Scaramuzzino (Utica, NY/Whitesboro),
Melissa Koch (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa),
Madison Williams (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent),
Tori Couture (Auburn, ME/Edward Little ),
Jordan Noga (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro),
Alexandrya Pope (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer),
Gianna Cavalier (Northport, NY/Commack ), and
Abaigail Bird (Nineveh, NY/Harpursville) will all provide veteran leadership, as each has helped the Pioneers capture at least one Empire 8 Conference title.
NEWCOMERS: The Pioneers welcome 13 new faces to the team this year including freshmen
Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder),
Brittany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa),
Tiffany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa),
Rebecca Kauffman (Mount Joy, PA/Linden Hall),
Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton),
Gabriella Pascarella (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool),
Madison Babicz (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford),
Alison Eaton (Cincinnatus, NY/Marathon),
Maria Orsino (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit),
Paige Mapley (Meridan, NY/Cato-Meridan), and
Carly Tebolt (Wappingers, NY/Roy C Ketcham), as well as Division I transfer
Meghan McCormick (Ava, NY/RFA) and DII transfer
Sara Hennessy (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa).
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS: The Pioneers' 2015 schedule features nine home games, four of which are Empire 8 Conference contests… UC will host Oneonta and New Paltz in a tournament Sept. 5 and 6 to kick off the home season… Utica will face two opponents it has never seen before as it takes on Kean University (Sept. 1) and first year program Keuka College (Oct. 21).
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Pioneers have racked up an impressive 16-3 ledger at Gaetano Stadium in the last two years. During that span, UC outscored its opponents 77-23 with seven shutouts.
