UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team returns to action Saturday as it takes on local rival, Morrisville State in the Pioneers' 6^th annual gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at nearby Clinton Arena.
 
UC GOES GOLD: Since the 2012-13 season, the UC women's hockey program has dedicated one game each year towards raising awareness for childhood cancer, which is a cause that strikes close to home for the Pioneers… Each year, the team partners with a foundation to help ease the medical costs of a local family with a child who is battling cancer… To date, the Pioneers have raised over $22,000 for the cause through their gold ribbon game (gold is the color of childhood cancer awareness).
 
JERSEY AUCTION:  The team is wearing special edition gold ribbon uniforms all season long to raise awareness for childhood cancer…  Fans can bid on the jerseys online (HERE) or in the arena at any home game this season...  The minimum bid for a gold ribbon jersey is $125 and you can also purchase the jersey immediately for $500... Bidding must be made in increments of $5...  The person with the winning bid will be invited to the Pioneers' end of season banquet, where they will be given their jersey from the player who wore it all season.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers defeated nationally ranked No. 10 Hamilton College 3-0 on Sunday, Nov. 26… Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) each had a goal and an assist, while freshman Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) had two assists… Colby Begis (Little Elm, TX/Dallas Stars) netted her first career goal and Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) and Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) registered one assist apiece… Sophomore Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) turned aside all 26 shots she faced to pick up the shutout in her first career start.
 
FINISHING STRONG: The third period has proven to be the best period for Utica so far this season… The Pioneers have outscored opponents 17-4 in the final 20 minutes of regulation. 
 
FINDING THEIR STRIDE: After starting the season 2-2, the Pioneers have now won four straight and five of their last six… UC has also outscored its opponents 11-2 over the last three games.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) leads the team with 10 points (four goals, six assists)… Classmate Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) has a team-high five goals so far.
 
CLOUD 9: Junior Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and senior Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) are tied for second on the squad with nine points… Dohner has three goals and six assists, while Power has two goals and a team-best seven helpers… Power also needs two more points to reach 50 for her career.
 
GOLD RIBBON GAME HISTORY: The Pioneers are 5-0 in gold ribbon games, while outscoring their opponents 21-7... Last year Utica topped Morrisville 3-2 in the charity game… The only other time the gold ribbon game was held at Clinton arena was Dec. 6, 2013, when UC scored three unanswered goals, including the game-winner just 44 seconds into overtime to down Hamilton College 3-2.  
 
SCOUTING MORRISVILLE: The Mustangs are 7-4-2 overall and they are coming off a tie and a loss at home to Franklin Pierce last weekend… Freshman Alexziz Giannamore leads the team with eight goals and ten points on the year… Classmate Karoline Arvik has collected a .925 save percentage and 1.49 goals against average.   
 
AGAINST THE MUSTANGS: Utica is 4-0 all-time against Morrisville… Last year, the Pioneers earned a pair of 3-2 wins against the Mustangs… Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) led the way with a goal and an assist on the weekend. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will have nearly a month off before returning to action on Sunday Jan. 7 at Oswego State… Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.