UTICA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team returns to action this weekend as it has a pair of games.  Saturday UC hosts Stevens Institute of Technology as part of UC's homecoming weekend.  The Empire 8 Conference contest is set to begin at 10 a.m.  The Pioneers will then travel to Keuka on Sunday for a non-conference contest beginning at 1 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: UC used two second-half goals, including the game-winner with just under seven minutes remaining, to down visiting Hartwick College, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon… Senior Rachael Scaramuzzino (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) had both goals, while freshman Joanna Gaertner (Schuylerville, NY/Schuylerville) tallied both assists… Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) made six saves in net.
 
FIRST WIN: Tuesday marked the first career win for Head Coach Nikki Kieffer… Kieffer, a 2015 graduate of UC, took over the reins of the program last December after the departure of Sarah Elleman… Kieffer was a member of one of the most successful classes in UC field hockey history as she helped lead the Pioneers to three straight Empire 8 Conference Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) leads the squad with three goals and 14 shots on goal… All three of her scores came in a 4-3 overtime loss to Kean on Sept. 11….  Meelan is also averaging four shots in each of the last four games… Her 3.43 shots per game this season rank fourth in the conference. 
 
HELPING OUT: Five players have found the back of the net for UC so far this year… After Meelan, senior Rachael Scaramuzzino (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) ranks second on the squad with two goals, while Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder), Tiffany Evans (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa), and freshman Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) each have one. 
 
SHE'S A BRICK, HOUSE: Junior goalie Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) ranks second in the Empire 8 with 11.57 saves per game… She is also third in the conference with a .802 save percentage… Her 134 career saves rank fifth on the College's all-time list.
 
SCOUTING STEVENS: The defending Empire 8 Conference Champions are off to a 4-2 start on the season, including a 2-0 mark in the E8… The Ducks are coming off a 2-1 win over Ithaca on Saturday… Junior Katti Thomasian leads the team with nine points (three goals, three assists), while Emily Stukenborg has a 2.10 goals against average.
 
AGAINST THE DUCKS: Utica is 4-3 against Stevens in the last five years, with five games being decided by one goal… The home team has won the last five meetings between the two teams… Last year, Utica fell 2-1 at Stevens… Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) scored the lone goal for the Pioneers.
 
SCOUTING KEUKA: The Wolfpack are currently 0-5 and they are coming off a 6-1 loss to Oswego on Wednesday… Alyssa Orsino leads the team with three goals on the year… Last season was the first varsity season for Keuka… Utica won the first ever match up 8-0… Meghan McCormick (Ava, NY/RFA), Rachael Scaramuzzino (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), and Jessica Belt (Webster, NY/Webster-Schroeder) each had two goals, while Madison Williams (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) netted one tally.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: UC will return home Wednesday as it hosts Hamilton College… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.