UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's lacrosse team returns home on Wednesday for an Empire 8 matchup against Ithaca College. The opening draw control is scheduled for 4p.m.
 
Last Time Out: It was Senior Day in the team's game against Empire 8 foe Alfred University last Saturday where the team cruised to a 22-3 victory… Junior Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the way with six goals, just one off her career-high...  Graduate student Colleen Dowling (Fairport, NY/Fairport) had three goals and one assist, while senior Sara Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse Minoa) also had three goals, marking her highest output as a Pioneer.
 
Conference Update: The Pioneers are currently in third place in the Empire 8 with a 3-0 record in conference play… Only Ithaca and Stevens are above them with 4-0 records.
 
Miller Time: Junior Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) has been riding a hot streak as of late that earned herself the College's Female Athlete of the Week award for her six-goal performance against Alfred… Miller is currently tied for the team lead with 30 total points but is first on the squad with 29 goals… She has scored at least one goal in every game this season.
 
Between the Pipes: Freshman goalie Hali Vandermeulen (Walden, NY/Valley Central) has been making an impact in goal in her inaugural season… She has 56 saves on the season and is stopping .519 of the shots she has faced… Vandermeulen ranks fifth in the conference with 6.22 saves per game and is sixth in allowing just over eight goals per game.
 
Scouting Ithaca: The nationally ranked No. 12 Ithaca Bombers are heading into Wednesday's game with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 4-0 record in conference games… They are coming off an 8-4 victory on Friday over SUNY Geneseo… Ally Runyon leads the team with 50 total points off of 44 goals and six assists while Kimberly Presuto is holding down the net allowing just 6.71 goals per game.
 
Against Ithaca: Last season, Ithaca came away with a 18-2 victory where Brooke Miller (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Natalie Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford) scored the goals for the Pioneers…The last time UC came defeated the Bombers was in 2009.
 
Looking Ahead: The team returns to action on Saturday for an Empire 8 road matchup against Stevens… Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m.