UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's soccer team kicks off its 2021 season Saturday as it travels to Buffalo State for a non-conference matchup against the Bengals.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
2020 RECAP: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Pioneers competed in a condensed season this past spring which featured eight games including postseason play… For the third year in a row Utica advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game, but fell to Russell Sage College in overtime on a penalty kick to spoil UC's hope of back-to-back championships… Utica's E8 Tournament run was nothing short of thrilling as it had a pair of wins by-way-of a penalty shootout in both the first round and semifinals.
 
LOOK WHO'S BACK: Utica returns three of its four leading scorers from last season… Graduate Student Jacinta Kaminski (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) and rising sophomore Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) were tied for the team lead with seven points (three goals, one assist) apiece, while Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) was right behind them with six points in eight games last spring… Hernandez also dished out a team-best four assists.
 
VETERAN PRESENCE: Utica's roster features 14 returning upperclassmen including graduate student Sydney Cook (Waterville, NY/Waterville) who is using her final season of eligibility… Cook has totaled 12 points in 26 games for the Pioneers...  Arguably her biggest tally was the Empire 8 title-clinching goal in the 2019 Championship game as UC defeated Hartwick 1-0… Along with Hernandez, seniors Aliah Decker (Waterville, NY/Waterville), Megan MacDonald (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Cynthia Boncaldo (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park), Katherine Migliori (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Sierra Varonier (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) will be looked upon to lead the squad, while juniors Jenna Keeman (Douglas, MA/Douglas), Hope Millets (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall), Eliza Ericson (Beacon, NY/Beacon), Olivia Papay (Weymouth, MA/Archbishop Williams), Shayla Seymour (Uxbridge, MA/Blackstone Valley Regional), and Erin Stalder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) are all expected to see valuable playing minutes.  Junior transfer Natalia Gerena (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) is looking to factor into the game plan as well.  Gerena comes to UC from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts…  The Trailblazers di not compete last year, but Gerena one goal and two assists in 17 games played as a freshman. 
 
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Utica has 11 freshmen and sophomores on the team this year… Mochak, Samantha Buley (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent), Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa), Gabriela Daumont (Latham, NY/Shaker), Kiersten Girard (St. Albert, Alberta/Bellerose Composite), and Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) all earned valuable experience last season… Freshmen Karen Troche (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam), Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester), Analise Burdo (Elizabethtown, NY/Boquet Valley), Sophia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton)a, and Jamie Eck (Centereach, NY/Centereach) will all look to challenge for playing time.
 
SCOUTING BUFF STATE: The Bengals did not compete in 2020 and are returning to game play for the first time in nearly two years… Buff State lost its season opener to St. John Fisher on Wednesday, falling 9-0. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Following Saturday's game, the Pioneers will remain on the road on Tuesday as they travel to North Adams, MA for a matchup against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts… Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.