UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team returns home this weekend for a pair of non-conference games. The Pioneers will host Becker College on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. before facing Manhattanville College on Sunday at 3 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers opened the season with a 1-1 weekend last weekend… On Saturday, UC defeated New England College 5-2, thanks to four unanswered goals by the Pioneers… On Sunday, Utica fell to defending National Champion and No. 1 ranked Plattsburgh State 5-0.
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.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sophomore transfer Rebecca Brown was named the UCHC Player of the Week on Tuesday… Brown wasted little time helping out the Utica offense as she scored two goals, the first of her career, in Utica's 5-2 win over New England College on Saturday... Brown knocked in a loose puck at 7:55 of the first period to put UC up 1-0… She followed that up with the tying goal with just 1.8 second remaining in the second period to swing the momentum in the Pioneers' favor.
BALANCED ATTACK: Four different players found the back of the net for the Pioneers on Saturday… Apart from Brown, senior
Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire) had a goal and an assist, while
Jennifer Arts (Lakeside, Ontario/London Devilettes) scored one goal and freshman Lexi Stanisewski netted her first collegiate goal.
DISHING IT OUT: Kyra Borsoi,
Noelle Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford Green Wave),
Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall),
Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine's Chaos),
Emily Holtshouser (Manchester, NH/Middlesex Islanders),
Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School), and
Jennifer Liu (North Saanich, British Columbia/Shaftesbury Titans) have each tallied one assist so far.
GOALIE DUO: Utica net minders Gabrielle Igo and
Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) each saw action in the first weekend… Igo made 18 saves to pick up the win in her first career start, while Lupo had a career-high 40 saves against Plattsburgh.
WELCOME BACK: Becker College is coached by two Utica alumni… Head Coach Eliza Kelley suited up for the Pioneers from 2007-2011 and then spent three seasons as an assistant coach to
Dave Clausen, helping to guide UC to six postseason appearances overall… Becker assistant Megan Myers was an All-American for Utica as she shares the program record with 74 career goals and she ranks second all-time with 143 points.
SCOUTING BECKER: The Hawks, who are in the midst of their third varsity season, are 0-2 after the first weekend of play… Becker finished last season with an overall record of 8-16-2 and made it to their second Colonial Hockey Conference tournament… This will be the first ever meeting between Utica and Becker.
SCOUTING MANHATTANVILLE: The Valiants finished last season with a 17-9-2 overall record and fell in the NEHC championship game to Norwich University… Nicole Mensi returns for her junior season after she led the team with 20 goals and 27 points last year.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers open UCHC Conference play next weekend as they travel to Chatham University… UC will face the Cougars Friday at 5:30 p.m. before wrapping up the series Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
