UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set to begin postseason play on Tuesday, November 1 as the fourth-seed in the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Conference Tournament. Game time against the fifth-seeded Hartwick College Hawks is set for 7 p.m. from Pioneer Field. 
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend on Tuesday can keep up with live video and/or stats through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
How it Works: The 2022 Empire 8 Conference Women's Soccer Championship Tournament will feature the conference's top six teams from regular season play. The first round is set to begin Tuesday, November 1, with the semifinal round being played on Thursday, November 3, and the championship will be held on Saturday, November 5. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. 
 
Playoff History: This will be the Pioneers' eighth trip all-time to the E8 Tournament including its fifth consecutive appearance. Utica has entered the field as the fourth-seed three prior times while having ran the table in 2019 as the only team to win the Empire 8 Conference Tournament as a fourth-seed. The team has also reached the championship game in three out of the last four seasons. 
 
Last Time Out: On Saturday the Pioneers overcame the Hartwick Hawks by a score of 1-0, clinching their postseason berth. Utica pushed the pace out of the gate, with Julianna Beaulieu recording a shot just two minutes into the opening half. Beaulieu was the focal point of the Pioneer offense, as she accounted for three of the combined 13 shots from both teams in the first half. Hartwick came out of halftime firing on all cylinders as the Hawks recorded a free kick and a shot within the first five minutes of the second half. Rory Richard, who recorded two shots in the opening frame, fired one toward Hartwick goalkeeper Sara Staup who recorded the save only to be beaten moments later by Jacinta Kaminski (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent), as Kaminski found the back of the net in the 70th minute to give the Pioneers the advantage, and eventually the win. 
 
Keep on Ro-ing: Ro Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic) has had a dominant performance this season for the Pioneers, finding herself on the Empire 8 leaderboard in every category. Hernandez has recorded 52 shots which places her second, second in shots on goal with 29, first in goals with nine, fourth in assists with five, third in game-winning goals with three, and first overall in points with 23. She also holds the team lead in every category. Hernandez has been the recipient of an Empire 8 Weekly Award as Offensive Player of the Week, as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Month for September. 
 
She's a Brick Wall: Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) has appeared in all 17 games for the Pioneers this season, posting 1.03 goals against average, as well as making 70 saves for a .814 save percentage. The junior goalkeeper has been the recipient of two Empire 8 Weekly Awards for Defensive Player of the Week, with her most recent coming today for her performance in the Pioneers shutout over Hartwick, and posting a .938 save percentage in her last two matches. 
 
Offensive Powerhouse: Beaulieu and Kaminski have combined for 56 total shots, as well as 37 shots on goal this season for Utica. Their combined effort has placed them at eighth and ninth on the Empire 8 leaderboard in shots on goal, respectively. On the season, Kaminski has recorded five assists, and Beaulieu has tallied four. The two are also tied at second in points on the team leaderboard. 
 
About Hartwick: The Hartwick Hawks are 4-7-5 on the season, with all of their wins coming in conference play. Gianna Cacciola currently holds their team lead in goals, while Myah Johnston has the lead in assists. All time, the Pioneers are 9-15-3 against the Hawks with their most recent win being on Saturday. In the Empire 8 Tournament, Utica is 1-1-1 all-time against Hartwick, with their last playoff matchup ending the Pioneers playoff bid in 2021 by a score of 4-1.

Up Next: With a win, the Pioneers will hit the road to face off against the top-seeded St. John Fisher University Cardinals at St. John Fisher University. The semifinal round is slated to begin on Thursday, at 4 p.m.