UTICA, NY - The Utica University field hockey team will complete its regular season slate this week before setting eyes towards the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. The team will host Hartwick College at 4 p.m. before traveling to face Elmira College at noon on Saturday. If the team finishes fourth or fifth in the league standings, the team will play in the Empire 8 First Round on Monday, October 30.
Follow Along: Live video and stats for all home contests can be found through
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. Elmira will have live video and stats through
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/elmira/.
Last Time Out: The team defeated the Keuka Wolves 1-0 on Friday evening. The first quarter saw Keuka generating offensive pressure, recording the most shots in the frame with five, three of which fell on goal for the Wolves. Four minutes into the game, Tori Nelson fired a shot, but was denied by Utica goalkeeper
Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls). Both teams would end the opening frame scoreless. Utica started the second quarter with its foot on the gas as the team registered three shots, compared to Keuka's zero. Utica would capitalize on the offensive efforts at 25:07 as
Mackenzie Mix (Camden, NY/Camden) registered her fourth goal of the season to put Utica on the board up 1-0. The second half of play was a back-and-forth battle as both teams would fight for possession. The Pioneers were setting up its offense well yet could not find the back of the net. At 40:25 in the third quarter, freshman
Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) recorded a shot on goal, but was saved by Keuka's goalkeeper Jordan Nichols. The Pioneers played fantastic today and were firing on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Mix and Speiezio led the way for Utica, each recording two shots on goal. Junior netminder
Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) recorded five saves allowing zero goals on the evening making this her first shutout of the season.
Ticket Punched: For a fifth consecutive season, the Pioneers have secured an Empire 8 Tournament berth. Utica can finish as high as third with two wins but otherwise would finish fourth. If Utica were to lose out and go 3-4, they hold head-to-head tiebreakers on all of Keuka, Sage and Nazareth. The three-time Empire 8 champions own a 9-6 all-time record in postseason play and have won at least one playoff game in three of their last four trips to the dance. This year, the Pioneers can finish as high as third with two wins but otherwise would finish fourth. If Utica were to lose out and go 3-4, they hold head-to-head tiebreakers on all of Keuka, Sage and Nazareth.
Young, Wild & Free: Hannah Young (Jordanville, NY/Little Falls) has been heating up during the most crucial stretch of the season for the team. She has allowed three goals or less in four straight games including boasting a shutout against Keuka while making five saves. Over her last four matches she has made 16 saves while allowing just five goals on 26 shots faced.
M&M: Mackenzie
Mix has been heating up at the right time as she has scored two goals in her last four outings. Her 51 career points have her in the top-15 all-time for career points while her 18 career goals are tied for 15th all-time and she is just two away from becoming one of fifteen players to have eclipsed 20.
About Hartwick: The Hawks are 8-5 this season and sport a 4-1 Empire 8 record this season and have clinched an Empire 8 Postseason Tournament berth. The team can finish as high as first and as low as fourth. The offense is led by Julie Ruzzi whose 33 points is the third most in the conference. Ashley Tricario and Danielle Hand are two more important parts of the offense with each recording at least 15 points this season. Ashley Luppens sports a 7-5 record in goal while allowing 26 goals, making 81 saves, and a .757 save percentage.
Scouting Elmira: The Soaring Eagles are 2-8 this season and sport an 0-5 Empire 8 record and did not qualify for the Empire 8 Postseason Tournament. The team will face Houghton University on Wednesday, October 25 at 5 p.m. before facing Utica on Saturday, October 28 at 1 p.m. Jenna Ellis leads the team with five points and three assists while Caitlin Ehlenfield and Jazmine Elliot are two more players to look out for. MeganRae Burke has seen the most time in net with a 2-8 record, 67 goals allowed, 159 saves, and a .704 save percentage.
First Round Matchup: The team will most likely face Russell Sage College or Keuka College in the first round of the Empire 8 Postseason Tournament. Sage is led by Amy Stevens whose 39 points lead the conference and is top-five in goals and assists. Sara O'Connor and Alyssa Fitzgerald are also prime contributors, each racking up at least 25 points this season. Jaia Caron is the team's top goaltender sporting a 5-8 record with 30 goals allowed, 108 saves, and a .783 save percentage. Keuka has a balanced attack with Tori Nelson, Erin Patterson, Kirstin Billings, and Makaela Mills each having at least 12 points this season. In goal, Jordan Nichols has a 4-10 record with 40 goals allowed, 141 saves, and a .779 save percentage.
Up Next: Utica can finish third or fourth in the league standings. With a 4th place finish the team will host the Empire 8 First Round on October 30. If the team finishes third it will travel to the second-seeded team for the Empire 8 Semifinals on November 2.
