Utica, NY – The Utica College women's soccer team is on the road Saturday to face Alfred, for its final contest of the 2017 season. This Empire 8 matchup is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Last Time Out: The Pioneers lost to Sage in their last game, 2-1, in an E8 overtime thriller.
Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) scored from about 25 yards out less than three minutes into the game for UC. Sage found a way to tie it up in the second half, sending the contest into overtime. Maegan Villa scored the game-winning goal for the Gators in the first overtime period.
Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) made 16 saves in the loss, as UC's record dropped to 5-10-1 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Statistical Leaders: Jenna Mazza (Frankfort, NY/Sauquoit Valley) is the team's leading goal scorer, as she has tallied four goals this season. Mazza also has two assists, making her tops on the team with ten points.
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) is UC's assist-leader and is third in the Empire 8 with five assists. Goalkeeper
Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) leads the conference with 152 total saves this season and owns the highest saves per game average of 9.50. She also sits in fifth place in the E8 with five shutouts on the year.
Wagner & Berkowitz: Senior
Keri Berkowitz (Racine, WI/Racine Saint Catherine's) holds a career-total of 15 assists with one game left to play in her career. Her assist count is currently tied for first in program history, with Danielle Smith (2006-09). If Berkowitz can record an assist in Saturday's matchup with Alfred, she will become Utica College women soccer's all-time assist leader. Sophomore
Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) is approaching the number two spot on the all-time rankings for career saves. Wagner has 152 saves this season, a career-high, giving her 284 total saves in her career. She needs 13 saves in order to pass Ashley Kaufman (2004-07) on the all-time saves list. With just one save, Wagner will hold sole position of third place for most saves in a single season in program history (Missy Diana – 152 saves in 1996).
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are sitting at a record of 6-8-3 overall and are 2-3-2 against E8 opponents. Saturday's matchup will be the team's final game of the regular season. In Alfred's last contest against conference opponent Nazareth, it lost in overtime by a score of 1-0. The Saxons were only able to place one shot on goal in the game. Goalkeeper Sammy Jo Shanahan, made nine saves in the loss. Emily Wright leads the team in goals with four and in assists with two on the year. Shanahan has made a total of 130 saves for Alfred and has recorded five shutouts.
Against Alfred: The last meeting between these two teams was a close contest througout. The Pioneers tied the Saxons in double-overtime, by a final score of 1-1. Alfred's Kate Christiansen scored the first goal of the game early on in the second half. Graduate, Ciara McIlvenny, tied the game up just six minutes later for the Pioneers and sending the game to overtime. With neither team being able to score in extra time, the game ended in a tie. UC has not lost to Alfred since falling to the Saxons 1-0 in double overtime, back in 2012.
Season Wrap-Up: After being eliminated from playoff contention, Saturday's game on the road against Alfred will be the final match of the season for UC. After finishing with just two wins all of last year, the Pioneers have taken a step forward and have a chance to finish this season with six wins. The last game of 2017 is set to kick-off at 5 p.m.
