UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's soccer team is set to kick off its season this weekend as it travels to Potsdam, NY for the North Country Classic.  Utica will take on Clarkson University Friday at 4:30 p.m. before traveling to Canton, NY to take on St. Lawrence University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 
WELCOME BACK: The Pioneers return 17 players from last year's squad, including Seniors Jamie Enders (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), Brianna Marfe (Mahopac, NY/Good Counsel), Elizabeth Feigum (Milford, NJ/Delaware Valley Regional), Xiomara Rodriguez (Bay Shore, NY/Brentwood), Ciara McIlvenny (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington), and Sara Kubera (Utica, NY/Notre Dame)… Enders started 12 games last season and led the squad with 71 saves and a .780 save percentage… UC also welcomes back its top four scorers from one year ago in sophomores Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) and Abby Reilly (Brookfield, NY/Brookfield), who combined for 18 points as freshmen… McIlvenny was tied for second on the squad last year with seven points (three goals, one assist), while junior Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) was fourth with six points (three goals)… The offense will be bolstered by sophomore Gabrielle Esposito (Rotterdam, NY/Mohonasen), who showed a lot of promise in her first collegiate season… Junior Elanna Green (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) will provide guidance on the defensive end as she ranked third on the team in minutes played last season… Amanda Pawlikowski (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill), AnnaLisa MacPhee (Latham, NY/Shaker), Samantha Marko (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), Caitlin Hopkins (Climax, NY/Greenville), and Jordynn Miller (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) will provide depth on the field, while junior Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) will push for playing time in net after she compiled a .776 save percentage in nine appearances last fall.
 
NEW FACES: The Pioneers welcome ten new faces to the squad this year including sophomores Brooke Catalano (West Islip, NY/West Islip ) and Jessica Levy (Coram, NY/Longwood), as well as freshmen Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy), Sara Russo (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville), Heather Dunning (Stamford, NY/Stamford Central), Kyra Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Holderness), Kendrah Stewart (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth), Taylor Willi (Sheffield, MA/Berkshire School), Lauren MacDonald (Poughgoog, NY/Arlington), and Kristina Barth (North Caldwell, NJ/West Essex).
 
SCOUTING CLARKSON: The Golden Knights are coming off their best season in five years and return leading scorers Summer Gillespie and Lauren Flynn… Gillespie had a team-high 18 points (six goals, six assists) in her freshman campaign, while Flynn led the squad with seven goals and chipped in two assists… Utica and Clarkson have split the series the last two years with the road team winning each game… UC topped Clarkson 1-0 on Sept. 5, 2014, before falling 2-1 to the Knights at home last season.
 
SCOUTING ST. LAWRENCE: The Saints return 14 players from last year's squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989… Juniors Kaleigh White and Katie Stames led the team last year with 31 points and 24 points, respectively… White netted a team-high 15 goals, while Stames led the squad with 10 assists… This is the first meeting between the teams since the 2007 season, when St. Lawrence topped Utica 2-1. 
 
FAMILIAR FOE: Saturday will be a homecoming of sorts for coaches Eileen Blumenauer and Elena Dauphinais… Blumenauer served as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence for three seasons before coming to Utica, while Dauphinais was a four-year member of the Saints women's soccer team before graduating in 2015.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they host SUNY Potsdam in non-conference action… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.