UTICA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team remains in the hunt for its first win of the season as it welcomes St. John Fisher College for an Empire 8 Conference Contest Saturday afternoon.  Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: UC is coming off a tough 5-1 loss to RPI on Wednesday… Freshman Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) netted her first collegiate goal while junior Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) made seven saves.
 
BIG WEEK: Saturday's contest is the first of three conference home games UC will have over the next week… The Pioneers take on Hartwick at home on Tuesday (4 p.m.), before facing Stevens Institute of Technology next Saturday (10 a.m.) as part of the College's homecoming festivities. 
 
MEELAN HEATING UP: After being held scoreless for the first three games of the season, sophomore Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) exploded for three goals, including the game-tying tally with less than seven minutes remaining to force overtime against Kean… She leads the team with six points and teallied a team-high five shots and three shots on goal against RPI… Meelan was tied for the team lead in points last season (17) and led the squad with eight goals in her freshman campaign.
 
HELPING OUT: Five other players have contributed points through the first four games… Sophomore Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) is second on the squad with three points (one goal, two assists), while Melissa Koch (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), Tiffany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), and Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) each have two points… Gianna Cavalier (Northport, NY/Commack ) rounds out the field with one assist.
 
SCOUTING ST. JOHN FISHER: The Cardinals are 2-2 on the year and they are coming off a 2-1 win over SUNY Cortland … Sophomore Lexi Foley and freshman Kelly Bergamo lead the team with two goals each.
 
AGAINST THE CARDINALS: Utica is 7-1 against Fisher in the last five years… Last year the Cardinals defeated Utica 3-0.