UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's ice hockey team will continue its home stand in a UCHC match up against Nazareth College on Wednesday for the seventh annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG:  As with all home games, live video and stats for the game will be available at portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
 
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 $30,000 for the cause through their gold ribbon game (gold is the color of childhood cancer awareness).
 
JERSEY AUCTION: The Pioneers will be wearing special edition gold ribbon jerseys that will be auctioned off online leading up to the game (HERE) as well as in the arena the night of the contest...  The minimum bid for a jersey is $100 with a "buy it now" option of $300…  Bidding will conclude at the start of the third period… All proceeds from the event will be donated to the 13thirty Foundation, which helps adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the area impacted by cancer live their best lives.

LAST TIME OUT: Utica played a tough game against Stevenson battling it to a 4-4 draw on Sunday afternoon… Junior Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) led the way with two goals, while freshman Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) had a goal and an assist… Freshman Maya Bennett (Belleville, ON/West Northumberland) also scored and Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) finished with 21 saves on the day. 

PIONEERS PUTTING UP POINTS: Sophomore Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) leads her squad offensively, with team-bests in both goals (seven) and points (13)… Freshman Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) is tied with Santullo with 13 points on the year on six goals and a team-high seven assists.
 
HELPING OUT: 13 different players have scored at least one goal on the year and 19 players have registered at least one point… Freshman Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) and senior Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) are tied for third on the team with 10 points apiece... Whitney is tied for second on the squad with six goals and she has also added four assists, while Hirschy has four goals and six helpers.
 
MOVIN' ON UP: Senior goalie Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) picked up her ninth career shutout on Saturday to move into sole possession of fourth place on the College's all-time list… She needs just one more to tie Jill Doherty '10 for third on the list, and two more to tie Sarah Detwiler '05 for second all-time.
 
STACKING UP IN THE CONFERENCE: The Pioneers are currently fourth in the UCHC North conference standings with a record of 7-3-1 in league play (7-11-1 overall), trailing Elmira, William Smith and Nazareth… With five conference games remaining, the Pioneers are gearing up for their playoff push. 
 
SCOUTING NAZARETH: Nazareth is currently third in the UCHC conference with a record of 7-1-2 and 13-2-3 overall… The Golden Flyers are coming off an 8-1 thrashing over Alvernia on Sunday… Four players have over 20 points on the season, led by sophomore Abbey Luth, who has a team-high 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists)… Classmate Adriana Brehm sports a .920 save percentage and a 1.73 goals against average.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Naz holds a 2-1 advantage in heads up play, however the Pioneers had the upper hand previously this season as Utica came away with a 4-1 victory in Rochester on Nov. 12… Freshman Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) had two goals and one assist to lead the way for the Pioneers, while classmates Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) and Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons) each had one goal… Senior Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) was lights out in net, turning aside 43-of-44 shots she faced. 
 
UP NEXT: Utica will remain home this weekend in a non-conference battle against Oswego State on Saturday.  Game time is 2 p.m.