UTICA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team faces a tough test Wednesday as it travels to nationally ranked No. 18 Skidmore College.  Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off an impressive 5-1 win over Brockport on Saturday… Freshman Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored three goals in the first five minutes of the game to give Utica a commanding lead… Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) had a goal and an assist, while Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) also scored… Maria Orsino (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) chipped in with one helper on the day… In net, Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) and Carly Tebolt (Wappingers, NY/Roy C Ketcham) combined for three saves in the win.
 
SCACCIA EARNS E8 RECOGNITION: Freshman Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) was named the Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after her performance in two games last week… On Wednesday, she had a goal as UC fell to Geneseo 4-2…  She followed that up with three goals in 1:38 to help the Pioneers to a 5-1 win over Brockport… She now ranks third on the team in goals (five) and points (11).
 
LEADING THE WAY: Junior Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) leads the team with eight goals and a career-high 21 points… Meelan needs just one more goal to reach a new career-bestfor goals in a season… Utica is 5-2 this season when Meelan scores at least one goal.
 
BALANCED ATTACK: 11 different players have found the back of the net at least once this season… Freshman Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) ranks second on the squad with six goals and 15 points… Senior Melissa Koch (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) is tied for the team-lead with five assists and she ranks fourth with nine points.
 
SCOUTING SKIDMORE: The Thoroughbreds, who were ranked No. 18 in the latest NFHCA national poll, are 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the Liberty League… Skidmore is coming off a 1-0 win over William Smith on Sunday… The team is led by junior Gabby Hyman, who has 10 goals and 21 points.
 
AGAINST THE THOROUGHBREDS: Utica is 2-3 against Skidmore in the last five years… Last season, UC fell 5-0 to the Thoroughbreds… Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) had a career-high 21 saves in the loss.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers wrap up the regular season on Saturday as they travel to Union College… Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.