UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team looks to bounce back Friday as it travels to nationally ranked No. 7, Middlebury College.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utica gave up two third period goals as it fell to nationally ranked No. 9 Norwich University on Sunday…  The game was UC's first contest back from a 28-day semester break… Junior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 23 saves in the loss.    
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Middlebury will be the third ranked opponent UC has faced this season… Three of the Pioneers' four losses have come to teams ranked in the top-ten nationally… UC will host top-ranked Plattsburgh State on Feb. 13 and 14.
 
LEADING THE WAY: The Pioneers top line consisting of senior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy), junior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire), and freshman Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) have combined for 23 of the Pioneers' 36 goals this season… Reed ranks ninth nationally in scoring with 1.57 points per game, followed closely by Schnepp who ranks tenth (1.50)…  Schnepp's 1.07 assists per game are good for fourth in the country, while Patterson's 1.21 points per game rank second in the nation in rookie scoring… UC is 8-1-1 so far when both Reed and Schnepp tally at least one point.
 
HOT START: Utica has outscored opponents 17-2 in the first period this season… Utica is 9-1-1 when scoring first, however the Pioneers are 0-3 when the other team scores the game's first goal. 
 
SHUTTING THE DOOR: The Pioneer defense has been solid all year, as they have allowed just 1.3 goals per game… Junior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) ranks fifth nationally in both save percentage (.956) and goals against average (1.08)… Her school-record five shutouts on the year are also tied for third in all of Division III.
 
SCOUTING MIDDLEBURY: The Panthers are currently 5-3-3 and they are coming off a 3-0 loss to top-ranked Plattsburgh State on Tuesday… Middlebury is led by sophomore Maddie Winslow, who has a team-best four goals and seven assists… Classmate Julia Neuburger has compiled a .924 save percentage and 1.81 goals against average in seven starts in net.
 
AGAINST THE PANTHERS: Utica has lost its last two meetings against the Panthers by just one goal… UC fell 5-4 at Middlebury on Feb. 4, 2014, and most recently lost a 2-1 overtime decision to the Panthers at the Aud last year.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: UC returns to ECAC West Conference play next weekend as it takes on SUNY Potsdam in a home-and-home series… The teams will meet in Potsdam on Friday (7 p.m.) before both teams travel to Utica on Saturday for a 4 p.m. faceoff.  
 
SAVE THE DATE: On Friday, Jan. 29, the Pioneers will host the fourth annual Shawn Grady Memorial Fund Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness as UC takes on ECAC West Conference foe, Neumann University (7 p.m.)… The Pioneers will be wearing the special edition gold ribbon uniforms at all home games throughout the month of January to show their support for all those fighting childhood cancer… The jerseys are currently being auctioned off online (HERE) leading up to the game, as well as in the arena the night of the event… All proceeds will be donated to help ease the medical costs of a local family that is currently dealing with the disease.