UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team opens up the 2017-18 campaign this weekend as it hosts New England College on Saturday (4 p.m.) before traveling to defending national champion, Plattsburgh State on Sunday (3 p.m.)
 
EXHIBITION RECAP: The Pioneers got their feet wet on Saturday as they took on Morrisville State in an exhibition match up… Utica came away with a 2-1 victory thanks to a pair of goals by senior Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats).
 
YOUTH HOCKEY RAFFLE: Youth hockey players are encouraged to wear their youth team's jersey to all home games this year… All youth players wearing their jersey on Saturday will be given a free raffle ticket to win a stick. 
 
GOING GOLD ALL YEAR LONG: All season long, the Pioneers will wear special edition gold ribbon uniforms to raise awareness for childhood cancer… The jerseys are currently being auctioned off online (HERE) and bidding can be done in person at any home game this year… After the season has ended, the jerseys will be sent to the person with the winning bid… Additionally, Utica's game against Morrisville State on Saturday, Dec. 9 will serve as the Pioneers' 6^th annual gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness… All money raised at the event and through the jersey auction will be donated to the family of a local child who is battling cancer… The Pioneers have raised over $22,000 for the cause over the last five years. 
 
NEW YEAR, NEW LEAGUE: This marks the first year that the Pioneers will compete in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC)… Utica was picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll as they picked up 61 points… Elmira College took the top spot with 72 points and Manhattanville College was picked to finish in third with 57 points.  Stevenson (45) and Williams Smith (40) rounded out the top five, followed by Neumann (32), Chatham (29), King's (13) and Lebanon Valley (11).
 
LEADING THE ATTACK: The Pioneers will rely on junior Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and senior Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) to lead the offense this year… Dohner finished tied for second on the team with 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in a breakout year for the forward… Power was fifth on the team in scoring with 17 points (five goals, 12 assists), followed by captain Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects), who had a team-best 10 goals and added six assists… Utica will also look to sophomore Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) to aid the offense after she was named to the ECAC West All-Rookie squad last year.
 
ON THE BLUE LINE: The Utica defensive core will be led by assistant captain Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School), senior Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire), and juniors Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) and Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall)… Lortie is the active leader in games played amongst defensemen on the team, as she has suited up in 82 games over the last three seasons… Husak tallied ten points last year (two goals, eight assists), while Dion had a solid sophomore season that saw her net four goals and add 11 assists in 27 games… Haasbeek was also impressive one year ago as she totaled 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 23 games.
 
SUPPORTING CAST: Seniors Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine's Chaos), Kelly Critzer (West Salem, OH/Ohio Flames), and Jennifer Arts (Lakeside, Ontario/London Devilettes) will provide veteran leadership up front, as will juniors Taylor Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) and Jennifer Liu (North Saanich, British Columbia/Shaftesbury Titans)… Defensively, the Pioneers are very deep as juniors Colby Begis (Little Elm, TX/Dallas Stars) and Kirsten Johnson (Brockville, Ontario/RSL Midget Thunder AA) both provided lock down defense and sophomore Kyra Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Holderness) has a year of collegiate experience under her belt.
 
IN THE CREASE: The goalie position is wide open after the departure of 2017 graduate, Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School)… Senior Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) will battle for the starting spot after she saw action in five games last year… Sophomores Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) and Kayla Rios (Dexter, NY/Northern Cyclones) will continue to develop and look to get some playing time this year as well. 
 
FRESH FACES: Utica welcomes eight new faces to the squad this year, including four freshmen… Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) will look to make an impact up front, while 5-11 freshman, Katrina Cornick (Mason City, IA/Rocky Mountain Roughriders ) will provide size on the Utica defense… Goalies Gabrielle Igo (Phoenix, AZ/Northern Cyclones) and Ryann Stripp (Holland Patent, NY/Clinton Warriors) will also battle for time between the pipes… Senior Emily Holtshouser (Manchester, NH/Middlesex Islanders) is back after taking last year off, while two-sport athletes Noelle Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford Green Wave) (women's lacrosse) and Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) (field hockey) will also look to break into the line up… Sophomore transfer Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) will add depth both offensively and defensively after playing 10 games last season for Norwich University. 
 
SCOUTING NEC: The Pilgrims finished last season with a 5-19-1 overall record and a 3-14 mark in the NEHC… New England graduated its top three leading scorers from last season, so the Pilgrims are looking for new players to carry the offense.
 
SCOUTING PLATTSBURGH: The defending national champion Plattsburgh State Cardinals open the season with the No. 1 ranking in the country… Plattsburgh is led by All-Americans Melissa Sheeran and Kayla Meneghin, who had 47 and 46 points last year, respectively.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will Return home with a pair of games next weekend… UC will take on Becker College on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) and wrap up the weekend against Manhattanville on Sunday (3 p.m.)