USILA/HEADstrong Cancer Awareness Game: NCAA lacrosse teams across the country are set to band together throughout the month of April for USILA/HEADstrong Foundation Cancer Awareness Month in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer … The landmark initiative will take place for the entire month of April, in which lacrosse teams nationwide will be asked to make a statement on the playing field by pledging a game, raising funds and wearing HEADstrong awareness accessories in support of the cause … All men's lacrosse games at the NCAA Division I, II, and III level during the month of April will have an opportunity to pledge a game as a USILA/HEADstrong event to support this important cause in a manner they see fit ... Fans can donate at www.headstrong.org/donate.  

Last Time Out: The Pioneers beat SUNY Oswego 12-10 at home last Wednesday …  Junior Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) (Bowmanville, ONT/St. Stephen Catholic) led the Pioneers with six points on five goals and one assist… Sophomore Dominic Castiglia (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) scored three goals and had one assist, while junior Nick Yelich (Lancaster, NY/Depew) (Lancaster, NY/Depew) recorded a career-high four assists… Utica goalie Parker Smith (Dexter, NY/General Brown) (Dexter, NY/General Brown) also made a career-high 21 saves… With the victory, the Pioneers improved to 4-3 overall. 

House and Castiglia Leading the Pack: Brickman House (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) (Oneida, WI/Pulaski) and Castiglia have both scored a team-high 17 goals this season… House leads the team in points (26) and assists (nine)… Castiglia is ranked fifth in the Empire 8 in shots per game (7.29).

Smith Holding Strong in Net: After recording a career-high 21 saves against Oswego, Smith is now 3-3 and has a team-high 83 saves this season… He is also ranked second in the Empire 8 in saves per game (13.83). 

Empire 8 Stat Leaders: Utica is ranked fourth in the Empire 8 in assists (7.0) and points (17.86) per game… They are also ranked fifth in the conference in goals (10.86), shots (33.71), and shots on goal per game (22)… In the conference's defensive rankings, the Pioneers are ranked second in saves per game (14.29) and have the conference's fifth best save percentage (.529). 

Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders are 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8… The Highlanders suffered a 16-5 road loss against Elmira College last Wednesday… Houghton sophomore Cole Chapman scored a team-high three goals in the loss, while Highlanders goalie Jorge Medina recorded 16 saves… Senior Paul Chapman leads the Highlanders in goals scored (26) and points (30)...  His younger brother Cole is also having a solid year recording 15 goals and four assists… Medina now has 101 saves.

Against the Highlanders: Utica has beaten Houghton in all four of their previous matchups… The Pioneers have scored 19 or more goals against in each of the four previous meetings… Utica downed Houghton 23-1 in their first ever matchup on April 10th back in 2013… The Pioneers also cruised past Houghton 22-5 on the road last season (4/2/16)… Castiglia posted a career-high nine points on five goals and four assists in the victory.

Looking Ahead: After Houghton, Utica will stay home next Wednesday to faceoff against Alfred State College… Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.