UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team will end its extensive road trip this Wednesday at Oswego State at 4 p.m. The team will then return home on Saturday to host Elmira College at 5:30 p.m. for its first home game since September 9.
 
Follow Along: Oswego will provide live video through https://bit.ly/3KirUlj and live stats through https://bit.ly/3UMb2d0. On Saturday, those unable to attend at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium can tune in with live video and/or stats at https://bit.ly/2wtxUV5. 
 
Last Time Out: Backed by three goals off the stick of Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington), the Utica University field hockey team defeated Washington & Jefferson College 4-2 in Empire 8 action. Pisano scored her first goal, as well as the team's, nearing the end of the first quarter. The junior collected a pass from Christina Jackson (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) for her second tally of the season coming at the 13:09 mark. Pisano scored again nearly three minutes later, this time unassisted, to put the Pioneers ahead 2-0. W&J, however, responded with goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes to even the game at 2-2. The score would remain tied throughout halftime and held even at two until late in the fourth quarter. In the 57th minute, Pisano capitalized for the hat trick as well as the 3-2 edge late in the game. Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy ) added one more for good measure in the 60th minute as Utica came away with its first conference win of the season. Pisano's multi-goal performance was the first of her career while Fragapane's late goal was the rookie's third of the season. Utica out-shot W&J 14-7 on the afternoon while drawing 11 penalty corners to the home team's seven. In goal, Lyla Cushman (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) made three saves while earning the second win of her young career. 
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are right in the middle of the pack as they are in fifth place in the Empire 8 standings at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Utica's defense has been playing solid as they are third in the Empire 8 in goals allowed and look for its defensive attack to spark the offense going forward.
 
Home Sweet Home: The Pioneers will be returning home this Saturday for the first time since September 9th. The five-game road trip is the longest in the team's twenty-one year history. Last time the team played in front of its home crowd, Utica shut-out Morrisville State 4-0 backed by a pair of Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy ) goals. 
 
One Down, More to Come:  Alyssa Pisano (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) was named Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week, her first of the season, as announced by the league on Monday. The phenom had a sensational game against Washington & Jefferson College as she amassed three goals in the Pioneers 4-2 win. Pisano scored her first two goals in the first half which led to her late game heroics, scoring her third to put the pioneers up 3-2 in the final minutes. Pisano's performance also made for her first multi-goal game of her career and set a new career-high with six points. She currently ranks ninth in the Empire 8 in points as she has nine on the season and is averaging 1.5 points per game. Pisano is first on the Pioneers with four goals and tied for second with one assist. 
 
Not so Secret Weapon: Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy ) continued her fine rookie season with a goal in the team's 4-2 win over W&J. Her strong play has helped her see an increase in minutes as she has played at least 45 minutes in three-straight games. Fragapane is second on the Pioneers in points with six and has three goals which is second best on the team behind Pisano (four). 
 
About Oswego: The Lakers are currently 5-3 overall and 0-1 in SUNYAC play. After a fine start to the season, Oswego has begun to skid as it has dropped its last three games, the most recent being a 4-1 loss against New Paltz. The Lakers success is led by their offensive powerhouse as the team is outscoring opponents a staggering 37-8. Oswego has the top-two point scorers in the SUNYAC in Kacie Simzer (20) and Kaitlyn Mastracco (17). The Lakers success does not stop there as Kaitlyn Ahle and Megan Delany are top-eight in the SUNYAC with 13 and 11 points. Goalkeeper Erica Scheblein is first in the SUNYAC with just eight goals allowed (a four-goal lead), three shutouts (1st in SUNYAC), 64 saves (3rd in SUNYAC), and a solid .889 save percentage this season (1st in SUNYAC). Utica is 11-1 all-time against Oswego and has won 11 straight contests from 2002-2021. 
 
Scouting Elmira: The Soaring Eagles have struggled so far this season as the team winless and in last place in the Empire 8 sporting an 0-8 record and an 0-3 in conference play. Elmira got blanked in its last match as William Smith College was able to blank them 10-0. The Soaring Eagles attack is led by Kylie Rosen and Katelin Bailey who lead the team in points and have accounted for nearly 57 percent of the team's shots. In goal, MeganRae Burke has 104 saves and is second in the Empire 8 with 13 saves per game. Utica leads the all-time series with Elmira 15-6 and has taken the last eight meetings as well as eight of 10 total at home. 

Up Next: After hosting Elmira, Utica will continue its four-game homestand against Ithaca College on Wednesday, October 5 at 7 p.m.