UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team returns from the winter break with a pair of non-conference games.  UC will travel to Oswego State on Sunday to face the Lakers, before returning to the friendly confines of the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday to host Worcester State.  Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. both days.
 
FIRST HALF RECAP: The Pioneers concluded the first half of the season with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in United Collegiate Hockey Conference action… UC has allowed just four goals in conference play and on the season, it has outscored opponents 62-12… The Pioneers' offense ranks second in the country in total goals scored as well as goals per game (5.64) … As a team, Utica is tied for first nationally with seven shutouts on the year. 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Utica's marquee event returns as the eighth annual gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness will be held on Saturday Feb. 12 when the Pioneers host Wilkes University… UC will be wearing special edition gold ribbon uniforms that are currently being auctioned off online leading up to the game (HERE) as well as in the arena during the game… The minimum bid for a jersey is $100 and bids must be made in increments of $5… All proceeds from the event will be donated to help ease the medical costs of a local family with a child who is currently battling cancer. 
 
LEADING THE CHARGE: Senior Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) leads the country with an average of 1.36 goals per game, thanks in part to hat tricks in three consecutive games earlier this year… Santullo is also second nationally in game-winning goals (four), and she is third in both points per game (2.18) and power play goals (five). 
 
SLOAN SUPPORTING: Junior Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) is in the midst of her best season as a Pioneer… Sloan has already set new career highs in goals (nine), assists (14), and points (23) in just 11 games… Sloan is fourth nationally in points per game (2.09) and assists per game (1.27) and her two shorthanded goals rank third in the country.
 
STINGY D: The Pioneers rank eighth in the nation allowing just 1.09 goals per game… Sophomore Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) ranks fifth in the country with a .781 goals against average and she is ninth in save percentage (.948)… Hawthorne also leads the conference and ranks second nationally with three shutouts on the year… Senior Savannah Gutierrez (Huntington Beach, CA/Anaheim Lady Ducks) meanwhile is fifth nationally with two shutouts to her credit… Gutierrez also owns a .934 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average. 
 
SCOUTING OSWEGO: The Lakers are 6-2-1 on the year and 3-2-1 in the NEWHL… Oswego's last competition was Dec. 3 against SUNY Cortland, a game in which the Lakers came away with a 5-4 victory… Junior Ariella Haas leads the team with nine points (two goals, seven assists)… Utica is 15-9-2 all-time against Oswego, but the Lakers have won the last two meetings, the most recent of which was a 2-1 decision in Utica on Feb. 8 2020.
 
SCOUTING WORCESTER STATE: The Lancers are 7-3-2 overall and 1-0 in the MASCAC… Worcester recently had its eight-game unbeaten streak snapped by St. Mary's University on Thursday… Junior Cassidhe Wozniak leads the team with nine goals and 15 points… Worcester State is coached by Utica alumna Eliza Kelley '11… Kelley suited up for the Pioneers for three seasons before serving as an assistant coach for four years… This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: Utica returns to UCHC play next weekend as it hosts Chatham University on Friday and Saturday… Friday's game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. while Saturday's contest will begin at 1 p.m.