UTICA, NY- The Utica College field hockey team faces a tough test Tuesday as it hosts local rival and nationally ranked No. 14 Hamilton College for a non-conference match up.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a 3-2 win at Houghton College in Empire 8 Conference action on Saturday… Sophomore Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had two goals, including the game-winner with just 31 seconds left in regulation to secure the victory… Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) also scored for UC while Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) and Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota) each had one assist… Freshman Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) made four saves in net to pick up her fourth win of the year.
 
HEATING UP: Senior Rylee Meelan (Clinton, NY/Clinton) has exploded for 11 points (five goals, one assist) in her last three games… She leads the team and is tied for second in the conference with 18 points… She is currently tied for fifth all-time in goals scored at UC (33) with former All-American, Alaina Stojkovski '14… Meelan needs just two more points to hit the 20-point mark for the second straight year.
 
BALANCED ATTACK: Eight different players have scored at least one goal so far for the Pioneers… Junior Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) is second on the squad with three goals, while Scaccia, Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota), and Maria Orsino (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) each have two goals… Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich), Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport), and Fiona Shea (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) have one goal apiece.
 
IN FOR THE LONG HAUL: Senior Madison Babicz (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) leads the team with 446 minutes played… Babicz is averaging over 63 minutes per game and she has started 46 straight games for the Pioneers, the longest such streak among active players.
 
FAMILIAR FOE: Hamilton and Utica, whose campuses are just nine miles apart, have met 16 times… Utica holds a 9-7 advantage in head-to-head play, however the Continentals have had the upper hand in the last three meetings.
 
SCOUTING HAMILTON: The Continentals, who were ranked No. 14 in the most recent NFHCA national poll, are currently 5-1 (3-1 NESCA) on the season… Hamilton's only loss was a 4-0 defeat to No. 1 Middlebury College… Junior Michaela Giuttari leads the team with 20 points on nine goals and two assists… Senior Julia Booth is allowing just 1.56 goals against per game. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will continue non-conference play as they travel to SUNY Cortland on Saturday… Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.