UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's soccer team looks to keep its momentum rolling this week as it has a pair of home games.  The Pioneers first welcome RPI on Tuesday for a non-conference clash (4 p.m.) followed by an E8 showdown against Alfred on Saturday (3 p.m.).
 
LAST TIME OUT: Utica has had nearly a week off since its last competition, a 2-1 win over SUNY Poly last Wednesday… Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) and Gabriela Daumont (Latham, NY/Shaker) each had a goal, while Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) had one assist… Sophomore Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) had seven saves in the win.
 
LEADING THE WAY: Hernandez leads the team and ranks third in the E8 with an average of 2.0 points per game… She has netted five goals on the season, including two game-winners… Both of these marks are tied for second in the conference in their respective categories. 
 
COUNT ON COOK: Graduate student Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) is second on the squad with 10 points (four goals, two assists)… Cook needs just one point to match the highest scoring output of her career at Utica, which she accomplished in 2019… UC is 3-0 on the year when Cook scores at least one goal.
 
SHUTTING THE DOOR: Sophomore goalie Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) leads the Empire 8 with a 1.00 goals against average and she is second in save percentage (.867)… In her career, she has allowed just 1.375 goals against in eight starts, while compiling a .857 save percentage and two shutouts.
 
SCOUTING RPI: The Engineers are 3-1-3 on the year and they are coming off a 6-0 win over Bard on Saturday… RPI is led by senior Whitney Wisnom, who has five goals and one assist in seven games played… Freshman goalie Sierra Skelding has compiled a .84 goals against average and .872 save percentage in six games… Utica is 0-5 against RPI dating back to 2008.
 
SCOUTING ALFRED: Alfred heads into this week with a 5-2-2 record… The Saxons are coming off a 5-2 win over defending conference champion Russell Sage College on Saturday… Alfred is led by freshman Kayla Silverstein, who has 12 points (five goals, two assists) through nine games… Utica is 2-2-1 in its last five meetings against Alfred… Last year the Pioneers came away with a 2-0 win behind a two-goal performance by Jacinta Kaminski (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent).
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this week's action, Utica wraps up its three-game homestand next Tuesday as it hosts Union College… Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.