UTICA, NY – The Utica College field hockey team travels to St. Lawrence University on Tuesday, September 24th for a non-conference matchup. The match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at St. Lawrence's North Country Field.
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers are coming off a shutout victory over defending Empire 8 Conference champion Washington and Jefferson on Saturday by a final score of 3-0. Senior Josie Sgarlata (Canastota, NY/Canastota), junior Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich), and sophomore Madeline Krecidlo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each scored for the Pioneers, while Lexi Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) each had one assist. The Pioneers overpowered the Presidents in the possession battle convincingly en route to an 11-5 shots on goal advantage. Sophomore Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) made five saves in the shutout. Whitehouse scored her goal on penalty stroke for the Pioneers.
SO CLOSE: Three of Utica's five losses have come by just one goal, including its most recent defeat, a 2-1 loss to Brockport in overtime last Wednesday. The Pioneers were firing on all cylinders on Saturday and will look to carry that momentum into upcoming games.
LEADING THE WAY: Sydney Scaccia (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) leads the team so far this season, with three goals and eight points on the year. Teammates Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) and Madeline Krecidlo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) are tied for second place with two goals each. Whitehouse continues to lead the squad in shots on goal this year, with 15 shots on goal through six games. Scaccia has landed eleven shots on the front of the net.
SAVING THE DAY: Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Chamberlain (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) is coming off of her first shutout of the season, and her first victory of the year as well. For the season, Chamberlain has 65 saves and a .823 save percentage to go with a goals against average of 2.27. She has played every minute in goal for Utica.
THE SHOE'S ON THE OTHER FOOT NOW: Tuesday's match will bring senior midfielder Ricki Haab (Stowe, VT/Stowe) back to a familiar place. For the first time in her college career, she will square off against the team that her two older sisters played for. Samantha Haab and Kim Haab both played for the Saints from 2012 to 2015, including in the team's most recent matchup against Utica. This season, the younger Haab has logged 319 minutes in six matches while adding an assist, two shots, and two defensive saves.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS: Freshman Mckenzie Haberl leads the Saints with six goals, one assist and 13 points on the year. Juniors Jackie Reiss and Isabel Thompson are tied for second on the team with two goals each. St. Lawrence is 3-4 on the season and will play its first true home game of the season tonight after a long road stretch that included two matches in Utica against Oneonta and New Paltz in the season's first weekend.
AGAINST THE SAINTS: The Pioneers and Saints have met nine times over the years, with their last matchup dating back to August 30th, 2014. Utica was victorious with a final score of 5-1 that day in Oneonta, NY, with Hannah Mackey netting a hat trick to lead Utica that afternoon. Current Pioneer head coach Nikki Kieffer was in the starting lineup for the Pioneers. Through 9 meetings, the Pioneers are 5-4 against St. Lawrence to lead the all-time series.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will embark on a journey to Rochester this Saturday for a conference matchup against St. John Fisher. Game time will begin at 4:00 p.m.
