UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's soccer team takes to Gaetano Stadium for the first time this season as it hosts a pair of games this week.  UC will face SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday (6 p.m.) before taking on Empire 8 foe Houghton College on Saturday (12 p.m.)
 
FOLLOW ALONG: Live stats and video for all home games are available at portal.stretchinternet.com/utica
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers were dealt their first loss of the season on Saturday as they fell to Fredonia 2-1… Senior Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) scored Utica's lone goal just 2:59 into the game, but the Blue Devils scored in the 14^th and 52^nd minutes to come away with the victory… Sophomore Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) made 10 saves in her first action of the year.
 
HEAVY HITTERS: Utica has outscored its opponents 10-2 through the first three games… The Pioneers are averaging 3.33 points per game, while allowing just .67 goals against… In fact, UC has allowed just seven goals in its last eight games, including three shutouts. 
 
LEADING THE WAY: Senior Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) currently leads the team and is tied for first in the conference with four goals on the season… Hernandez has scored in each of the first three games this year and with eight points, she has already surpassed her scoring output from last spring (six points)… Both Hernandez and Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) are tied for second in the conference with eight points… Cook and Eliza Ericson (Beacon, NY/Beacon) are tied for second in the E8 with two assists apiece. 
 
SCOUTING POTSDAM: The Bears are 4-1 on the year and they are coming off back-to-back 1-0 wins against New England College and Roger Williams… After falling to St. Lawrence 3-1 in the season-opener, Potsdam has rattled off four straight wins and has allowed just two goals in that span… Senior Mackenzie Bowie leads the team with 12 points on four goals and four assists… Utica is 6-10-1 all-time against Potsdam, but the Pioneers came away with a 3-1 win in the last meeting between the teams on Sept. 13, 2019.
 
SCOUTING HOUGHTON: Houghton is 2-1 on the year and is coming off a 9-0 win versus Clarks Summit on Saturday… Senior Sierra Dibble leads the Highlanders with seven points (three goals, one assist)… Keeper Megan Merrifield has compiled a .733 save percentage in three starts… Utica is 2-1-2 against Houghton in the last five meetings… Last year, the teams had their regular season contest canceled due to COVID protocol, but met in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament… The teams played to a 1-1 tie after double overtime, but Utica won on penalty kicks by a score of 3-1. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this week's games, Utica will remain in the Mohawk Valley as it travels across town next Wednesday to take on SUNY Poly… Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.