UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team opens up the 2016-17 regular season this weekend as it travels to Buffalo State for a two-game ECAC West Conference series. The teams will face off at 4 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
TUNE UP AGAINST TORONTO: The Pioneers came away with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Midget Aeros in their preseason exhibition contest on Sunday, Oct. 23… Five different players scored for UC, led by senior
Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire), who netted two goals.
NATIONAL POLLS: The Pioneers are currently ranked No. 9 in both the USCHO.com and D3hockey.com national polls… This marks the first time ever that Utica will open the season with a national ranking… The Pioneers set a program record with 19 wins last season and advanced to the conference championship for just the second time ever.
PATTERSON PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF: Reigning ECAC West Rookie of the Year,
Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) registered one goal and added an assist in the Pioneers' exhibition win over Toronto… Patterson finished her freshman campaign with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points, becoming the first freshman in five years and just the fourth player in program history to score more than 30 points in her rookie season.
SCHNEPP CONTINUES TO LIGHT THE LAMP: Senior
Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) wasted little time in finding her stride as she scored two goals, including the game-winner as the Pioneers topped Toronto… Schnepp is the active scoring leader with 87 career points (36 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games played… She is coming off a stellar junior season that saw her reach career highs in points (43) and assists (29).
HELPING OUT: Sophomore
Kaitlin Parent (Myersville, MD/Middletown) netted her first goal in a UC uniform against the Aeros, while
Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) added a power play tally midway through the first period to give UC a 2-0 lead… Forward
Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) made an instant impact for Utica as she netted her first collegiate goal an added an assist in the win, while sophomore
Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) had two assists on the day.
IN THE CREASE: The goalie tandem of senior
Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School), junior
Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles), and freshman
Briah Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) combined for 31 saves against Toronto… Goin will look to build off her .942 save percentage and 1.61 goals against average last year.
SCOUTING BUFFALO STATE: The Bengals, who set a program record with 18 wins last season, are off to a 1-0-1 start after downing Nichols 6-0 and tying Plymouth State 4-4 last weekend… Buff State returns 12 of their top 13 scorers from last season, including honorable mention All-ECAC West selection Erin Gehen, and the Conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Justine Silva, in net.
AGAINST THE BENGALS: Utica is 8-2-1 against Buff State in the last five years… Last season, the teams split their series, with the Bengals stealing a 2-1 win at the Aud, before UC was able to rebound the next day to earn a 4-2 victory… Schnepp, Patterson,
Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers), and
Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) each scored in the win.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers take on William Smith College in a home-and-home series next weekend… UC will travel to Geneva, NY on Friday to face the Herons at 7 p.m. before both teams return to Utica on Sunday for an 11 a.m. faceoff.
