UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set for two Empire 8 Conference matchups this week. The team will take on the Russell Sage College Gators on Wednesday, October 9 at 4pm on Laura M. Casamento Field before traveling to Alfred, NY to take on the Alfred University Saxons on Saturday October, 12 at 6pm. 

Follow Along: Live video for Wednesday's game can be found at https://www.empire8network.com/utica/ Live stats for Wednesday's game can be found at https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary Video for Saturday's matchup can be found at https://www.empire8network.com/alfred/ while live stats can be found at https://gosaxons.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary

Last Time Out: Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) was the team's only goal scorer. Rylee Lmaphere, Rory Richard (Barneveld, NY/Holland Patent), Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), and Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) had at least one shot. Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) started in goal for the Pioneers, making four saves, two in the first and three in the second.

Where We Stand: With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Pioneers are currently ranked seventh in the conference with a record of 2-3 in Empire 8 Conference play. With the new expanded eight team playoff format for the Empire 8 Conference tournament, the Pioneers will need to swing the momentum back in their favor to keep the team's playoff hopes alive for the team's seventh-straight playoff appearance. Utica is currently averaging 1.82 goals per game, a mark good enough for fifth in the conference team leaderboard. In 11 games played, the Pioneers have notched 143 shots and have found the back of the net 20 times. 

Bingo!: Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) has been dominant on both sides of the ball for the Pioneers. As a defender, Giovingo has managed to find the back of the net for Utica twice so far this season. She has recorded three shots, all three of which have fallen on goal, and currently leads the team in shooting percentage with .500. 

The Ones That Shot Away: 18 different Pioneers have recorded a shot so far this season. Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) still holds the top spot on the team leaderboard with 30 shots, posting at least one shot in every contest so far this season. Her 2.73 shots per game average is a mark good enough for top five in the conference. If the momentum continues in her favor, Piersma could find herself in the top ten in the single-season record books in every shot category. Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) is not far behind Piersma on the team leaderboard, posting 21 shots and averaging 1.91 shots per game. 

Lock it Down: Goalkeeper Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) has been impressive between the pipes for the Pioneers so far this season. Connolly has posted a 1.109 goals against average on the season, a mark good enough to put her into the top five in the conference in that category. Connolly has also put up a .741 save percentage which is good enough to put her into the top-ten on the conference leaderboard. Goalkeepers Connolly, Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham), Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), and Karen Troche (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) have combined for a 1.364 goals against average so far this season, a mark good enough to put the team inside the top ten on the conference leaderboard. All four goalkeepers have combined for four total shutouts on the season. 

A Look at Sage: The Russell Sage College Gators are currently 2-5-3 on the season so far, and have posted a 1-2-1 record in Empire 8 Conference play. Seven different Gators have been able to find the back of the net so far this season. Sofia Sanzo is the team's top shot taker, notching 15 shots, with five of them falling on goal. Marissa Key has tallied 11 shots so far, with five of her efforts falling on goal. Goalkeeper Olivia Horan has posted a 1.29 goals against average on the season, with a .853 save percentage, making 64 saves. The Pioneers are 7-10 against the Gators all-time. Last season's matchup between the Pioneers and the Gators ended in a 0-0 draw. 

Scouting the Saxons: The Alfred University Saxons are currently 6-2-2 on the season and have posted a 4-1 record in Empire 8 Conference play. Kayla Silverstein and Nyah Solly have each been able to find the back of the net four times for the Saxons this season. Lina Young is the team's top shot taker, tallying 20 shots and 12 shots on goal. Between the pipes for the Saxons has been goalkeeper Kiani Barnard-Pratt, who has posted an impressive 0.67 goals against average on the season so far. Barnard-Pratt has notched a .875 save percentage, making 42 saves. All time, Utica is 16-5-3 against Alfred, with last season's matchup in the Empire 8 Conference first round ending in a 0-0 draw in regulation, with Alfred moving on after penalty kicks, 3-2.