UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team is back in action this weekend as it takes on ECAC West Conference foe, SUNY Potsdam in a home-and-home series. UC will host the Bears at the Aud on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) before both teams travel to Potsdam for a 4 p.m. game on Sunday.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers swept William Smith College last weekend with a pair of shutouts… On Friday, Utica beat the Herons 1-0 on the road…  Sophomore Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) scored the game's only goal, assisted by senior Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers)...  UC cruised to a 4-0 win on Sunday to complete the sweep… Junior Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) led the way with her first two career goals, while senior Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy) and freshman Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) each tallied one goal…  With wins against the Herons, the Pioneers are now 2-2 overall and in the ECAC West. 
 
GOIN NAMED GOALIE OF THE WEEK:  Senior goalie Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) was named the ECAC West Goalie of the Week on Monday after her performance against William Smith…  Goin recorded 48 saves in two shutout victories against the Herons...  She currently ranks third in the nation in save percentage (.968) and fifth in goals against average (.76)...  Goin is also now tied for first on the College's all-time list with 11 career shutouts.
 
BIG D: Senior defenseman Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy) leads the Pioneers with three points (one goal, two assists), while fellow blue liner Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) has a team-best two goals… As a team, Utica ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just .75 goals against per game, and the Pioneers are also fourth in the country in penalty kill, killing off 23-of-24 of opponent's power play opportunities.
 
SCOUTING POTSDAM: The Bears are 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ECAC West...  They are coming off a split with Buffalo State last weekend… Senior Jordan Ott is off to a great start so far, scoring a team-high seven goals and ten points.
 
AGAINST THE BEARS: The Pioneers are 7-1-4 against the Bears in the past five seasons...  Utica had no issues with the Bears at home as they beat SUNY Potsdam in the three previous home games…  UC also got a 3-0 win at Potsdam last season, behind goals from Taylor Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) and Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats)… Goin made 26 saves in the shutout.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will hit the road next weekend for the Panther/Cardinal Classic, hosted by Middlebury College… UC will take on the host team at 2 p.m. on Saturday and will face either Plattsburgh State or Adrian College on Sunday. 
 
SAVE THE DATE: Utica returns home on Saturday, Dec. 3 to take on Morrisville State at 2 p.m. in the 5^th annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness… Both teams will be wearing special edition gold ribbon uniforms that are currently being auctioned off online with all proceeds being donated to a local family who has a child currently battling cancer… For more information about the game and the jersey auction, click HERE.