Utica, NY – The Utica College women's soccer team is hosting Empire 8 foe Stevens on Saturday. It's Homecoming Weekend and also Senior Day for the team as the seniors will be playing in the last home game of their careers.
Senior Day: UC has four seniors that will be playing their last game on Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The seniors are:
Amanda Pawlikowski (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill),
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's),
Caitlin Hopkins (Climax, NY/Greenville), and
Jordynn Miller (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). All four of them have played on this team all four years of their college career, beginning as freshman in 2014. The seniors will be recognized prior to the game and joined by their families on the field.
Last Time Out: In their last contest, the Pioneers lost at home to Hartwick College, 1-0. The loss pushes the team's record down to 5-8-1 overall and 2-3 in E8 competition.
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) was able to place all three of her shots on goal, but was unable to beat Hartwick's goalkeeper. Rachel Weir scored the lone goal in the game for the Hawks, coming off of a Kiley Richardson corner kick. UC goalie,
Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) made six saves for the team, while Cassandra Robataille recorded six saves and a shutout for Hartwick.
Statistical Leaders: Abby Reilly (Brookfield, NY/Brookfield) and
Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) currently lead the team with three goals each. Mazza is tops on the squad in total points with eight so far this season.
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) leads the team and is third in the Empire 8 with five assists.
Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) is currently leading the conference with 122 saves in net. Wagner is third in the E8 with her saves percentage of .878 and third with five shutouts this year.
Conference Standings: With an in-conference record of 2-3, the Pioneers are currently sitting in fifth place and with a chance to earn a spot in the E8 Tournament. With only four teams getting a chance to play in the conference tournament the full standings are as follows: 1. Hartwick (6-1 E8), 2. Stevens (5-1 E8), 3. Nazareth (4-1 E8), 4. Houghton (3-2-1 E8), 5. Utica (2-3 E8), 6. Alfred (1-2-2 E8), 7. St. John Fisher (1-4-1 E8), 8. Elmira (0-4-1 E8), 9. Sage (0-4-1 E8). UC has three Empire 8 games left on the schedule (Stevens, Sage, and Alfred) and have an opportunity to make the E8 Tournament for the first time since 2007.
Scouting Stevens: The Ducks are boasting a 9-3-2 overall record to go with their 5-1 mark in Empire 8 play. In the team's last contest, Stevens fell to the College of New Jersey (14-0) by a score of 1-0. Goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken made ten saves for the team in the game. Gabby Saade and Julia Panko lead the way, as they both are tied for first in the Empire 8 with a total of 20 points. Saade is tops on the team and second in the conference with eight goals this season. Panko leads the team and the E8 with eight assists to go with her six goals (fifth in the E8). Mahnken has made 59 saves so far this year and owns the second best saves percentage in the conference, with a mark of .881.
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will be back in action on October 24th, as they travel to face Sage for an Empire 8 matchup. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
