UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team returns to action this weekend as it hosts UCHC foe Neumann University for a conference series.  Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a sweep of Chatham University last weekend to open conference play…  UC defeated the Cougars 5-2 on Friday and 5-4 on Saturday… Sophomore Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) led the way with five points (two goals, three assists) on the weekend… Freshman Katrina Cornick (Mason City, IA/Rocky Mountain Roughriders ) and sophomore Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) each had three goals and one assist over the two games… Senior Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) also had a four-point weekend as she totaled one goal and dished out three helpers… Classmate Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) netted her first goal of the season Saturday, which proved to be the game-winner. 
 
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 at either game this weekend will be given a free raffle ticket to win a UC jersey.
 
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' 6th 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.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) leads the team with eight points (four goals, four assists)… Brown has tallied at least one point in all but two games so far… Utica is 3-0 when Brown scores at least one goal.
 
UCHC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Freshman Katrina Cornick (Mason City, IA/Rocky Mountain Roughriders ) was named the UCHC Rookie of the Week, announced Tuesday afternoon… Cornick totaled four points in the sweep of Chatham last weekend… On Friday, she scored her first collegiate goal and added an assist on the game-winner as Utica downed Chatham 5-2...  She followed that up with two goals in the Pioneers' 5-4 win on Saturday...  On the season, she ranks second on the team with six points (three goals, three assists).
 
HEATING UP: Sophomore Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) has five points in her last four games… Hirschy shares the team lead with four goals so far… Hirschy, who was an All-Rookie selection last year, has already scored more goals this season than she had in 14 games last season before being sidelined with an injury.
 
SCOUTING NEUMANN: The Knights are 4-1-1 overall and 2-0 in the UCHC after sweeping Manhattanville last weekend… Senior Bek Lucas leads the team with 10 goals and 13 points through six games.
 
AGAINST THE KNIGHTS: Utica is 8-1-1 against Neumann in the last five years… Last year, the Pioneers came away with a pair of victories, 4-1 and 5-2… Senior Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine's Chaos) led the way with three goals and one assist on the weekend.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers remain home Tuesday as they host SUNY Canton… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.