UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team opens up UCHC Conference play this weekend as it travels to Pittsburgh, PA to take on Chatham University in a two-game series. The Pioneers will face the Cougars at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utica is coming off a 1-1 weekend at home as it defeated Becker College 3-0 and fell to Manhattanville 4-1… Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) each had a goal and an assist on the weekend, while freshman Katrina Cornick (Mason City, IA/Rocky Mountain Roughriders ) had two assists… Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) and Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall) each found the back of the net as well and Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School), Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University), Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire), and Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) each chipped in with one helper… Freshman Gabrielle Igo (Phoenix, AZ/Northern Cyclones) made 10 saves for her first collegiate shutout in just her second career start.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) and senior Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire) lead the team with three points apiece… Brown has two goals and one assist, while Husak has netted one goal and added two assists.
 
BALANCED ATTACK: Eight different players have scored at least one goal through the first four games and 16 different players have tallied at least one point.
 
GOALIE TANDEM: Senior Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) and Freshman Gabrielle Igo (Phoenix, AZ/Northern Cyclones) have split time in net so far… Igo holds a 1.00 goals against average and .933 save percentage, while Lupo has a .873 save percentage.
 
FAMILIAR FACE: Chatham is coached by former Utica assistant, Jessica Newstrom… Newstrom served two seasons behind the bench for Dave Clausen's coaching staff before she was hired to lead the Cougars last spring… During her two seasons at Utica, Newstrom helped lead the Pioneers to 36 wins, including a program record 19 victories in 2015-16.
 
SCOUTING CHATHAM: The Cougars are 1-1 overall after defeating Lebanon Valley 6-1 and losing to Neumann College 3-2 last weekend… Senior Kasandra Peterson leads the country in scoring amongst defensemen as she has two goals and two assists so far. 
 
AGAINST THE COUGARS: UC is 10-0 against Chatham in the last five years… Last year, the Pioneers won 3-1 and 3-2… Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) had two goals and one assist on the weekend, while Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) and Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire) each had one goal… Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) had two assists apiece.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers return home next weekend as they host Neumann University… Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.