UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team gets into the thick of Empire 8 play this week starting with a trip to Oneonta on Wednesday for a matchup with the Hartwick College Hawks at 6 p.m. Utica then returns home for Senior Day against the Houghton University Highlanders at 4 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Wednesday's live stream can be found on https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hartwick/ with live stats at https://www.hartwickhawks.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary. Saturday's live stream and stats can be found at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers and Alfred University Saxons played a close and competitive match on Saturday. Utica edged Alfred in shots 13-8, while the Saxons held a 7-6 shot on goal advantage. Utica outshot Alfred in the second half, 9-4. Julianna Beaulieu (Southwick, MA/Chicopee Comprehensive), Samantha Kogut (North Adams, MA/Drury), Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville), Noella Burlette (Manchester, CT/Manchester), Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) and Jazmyn Gillette (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) each recorded one shot on goal. In the first half, the Pioneers had multiple scoring chances but could not capitalize. In the 38th minute Alfred's Olivia Gilbert found Abby Wilson after a scramble in front of the goal to put the Saxon's up 1-0. Midway through the second half, Jazmyn Gillette (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) capitalized on an assist from Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) in at the 64th minute tying the game 1-1. Gillette currently leads Utica with four goals in six games, while Lamphere extends her assist total to four. Nearly 15 minutes later, defender Jenna Keeman (Douglas, MA/Douglas) recorded her first assist of the season after she found Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) in front of the net to give Utica a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute. The Saxon's didn't go away as Abby Wilson notched her second goal of the game at the 82nd minute to tie the match 2-2. Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) started in net for Utica posting five saves with a .714 save percentage. 
 
Senior Day: The team will honor seven seniors against Hartwick, Saturday afternoon. Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley), Julianna Beaulieu (Southwick, MA/Chicopee Comprehensive), Gabriela Daumont (Latham, NY/Shaker), Harlee Lucier (Parish, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown), Kaela Mocha, Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) and Cierra Doolen (Frankfort, NY/Central Valley Academy). 
 
Steady Scoring: Jazmyn Gillette (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) keeps making her presence felt as a Pioneer recording her fourth goal in the 2023 season, with only six shots on goal. She ranks first in the Empire 8 with four goals and sits second in points with eight in six games. Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) is back on the scoresheet, recording one goal against Alfred on Saturday. With two goals on the season, that marks a career-high while only recording four shots on goal through eight matches. Utica has been sharing the ball exceptionally well as they rank first in the conference dishing out ten assists and tied first with Russell Sage totaling 38 points. 
 
Countin' on Courtney: Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) heads into the these two contests with eight saves in the last two matches and has recorded at least three saves since September, 9 against Oswego. Connolly has posted a .775 save percentage and a 3.88 goals against average. 
 
Scouting Hartwick: The Hartwick Hawks sport a 2-3-2 overall record and 0-1-1 in the Empire 8. The team is coming off their first conference match of the season against Nazareth University, drawing 1-1.  Senior Madi McGuire leads the Hawks with seven points, three goals, one assist and recording 12 shots on goal. Her 12 shots on goal is tied for first in the Empire 8. Jenna Mierek is second, scoring three goals, while Grace Byrne leads the Hawks with three assists. Meghan Perry has started all seven matches in goal averaging a .840 save percentage. Perry has helped Hartwick to only eight goals allowed in seven matches. The team sits second in the conference, averaging 7.29 goals per game and first in penalty kicks scoring two. 
 
Last Time Against Hartwick: The teams last met in the first round of the 2022 Empire 8 Conference Tournament which resulted in a Utica 2-1 win. Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) scored early in the contest with a shot from 20 yards out which put Utica up 1-0. Hartwick would strike back soon later,  Nicole Cassab scored to even the match at 1-1 in the 45th minute. Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) capitalized only four minutes later in the 48th minute on a corner kick from Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) to put the Pioneers back on top 2-1. Mochak's goal ultimately set the tone for the match as the Pioneers prevailed 2-1. Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) had a phenomenal evening recording seven saves, five coming in the second half. 
 
Looking at Houghton: The Houghton University Highlanders are 3-3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. The team is coming off a 2-0 win against Hilbert College on Saturday. Houghton will face Nazareth University on Wednesday, September 27 at 5 p.m. before clashing with Utica on Saturday. Natalie Milne leads the Highlanders with five points, two goals and one assist. Milne's two goals came in back-to-back matches against Elmira College and Hilbert. Freshman Karryne Mims ranks second on Houghton in goals with two. Rileigh Studley leads the Highlanders with two assists in 2023. Houghton is 5-4 overall against Utica. Last time out, the Pioneers won 3-0. 

Up Next: Utica hits the road to take on Elmira College at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.