UTICA, NY - The Utica University Pioneers women's soccer team is set to begin its 2024 campaign at home this Friday, August 30 against SUNY Morrisville. Game time from Laura M. Casamento Field is set for 3:30p.m.
 
Follow Along: Keep up with live video at https://www.empire8network.com/utica/ or live stats at https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary 
 
Last Season: The Pioneers are fresh off a 7-5-5 campaign last season, finishing with a 3-1-4 record in Empire 8 Conference play. Utica clinched the third seed in the Empire 8 Conference Championship, ultimately falling to Alfred University in the opening round in penalty kicks. The tournament appearance marked the sixth straight season the Pioneers clinched a playoff berth and the ninth time in program history the team made it to the postseason. Efforts by the team did not go unnoticed, as six Pioneers found themselves receiving All-Conference accolades. Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville), Gabriela Daumont (Latham, NY/Shaker), Jenna Keeman (Douglas, MA/Douglas), and Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) were awarded All-Conference Second Team honors, while Julianna Beaulieu (Southwick, MA/Chicopee Comprehensive) and Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) found themselves on the All-Conference Third Team. 
 
Looking Ahead: The team's 18 game slate includes 11 conference matchups and seven non-conference dates. Utica's conference schedule begins with a matchup with Houghton University on the road Saturday, September 21. The Pioneers home conference slate includes meetings with Elmira College, Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Geneseo, Russell Sage College, Keuka College and defending conference champion Nazareth University. On the road, the Pioneers will face off against conference opponents Houghton University, St. John Fisher University, conference newcomer SUNY Poly, Alfred University, Hartwick College, and conference newcomer SUNY Brockport. Utica's non-conference slate includes matchups against SUNY Morrisville, Penn College, St. Lawrence University, and the annual Blue Devil Clarion Classic hosted by Fredonia State which includes matchups against Fredonia and Oswego State. 
 
At the Helm: Brooke Barbuto enters her sixth season as head coach of the Utica University women's soccer program. Barbuto has continued the program's positive momentum from recent years in her six seasons on the job. Barbuto has led the Pioneers to three Empire 8 Championship game appearances and the team has reached the postseason in all six years of her tenure. That includes the program's first Empire 8 tournament title and NCAA tournament appearance in 2019. She has piloted the squad to a record of 37-30-14 over a five season span. She has coached her players to a total of twenty-one All-Conference nods. Assistant Caroline Kopp will also be entering her sixth season with the program. 
 
Welcome to the Club: The Pioneers are welcoming eight new faces to the roster this season. Freshmen Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham), Ayla Flockton (Plymouth, MA/Plymouth North), Megan Fedish (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay), Mackenzie Turner (Hamilton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton), and Bella Noble (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) are poised to make an impact for Utica this season. Transfers Grace Oliver (Auburn, NY/Auburn), Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), and Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) are also set to play key roles for the Pioneers. Piersma, a NJCAA Region III Champion brings her talents from MVCC, where she was honored as First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, NJCAA First Team All-American and an NJCAA Region III Player of the Year Recipient in 2022 and 2023. Pcola, also a NJCAA Region III Champion, garnered NJCAA Region III All-Tournament Team honors last season. 
 
Guess Who's Back, Back Again: Graduate Student Courtney Connolly (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley), as well as All Conference Honorees Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) and Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) have returned for the Pioneers this season. Connolly started all 17 games for the Pioneers last season, recording a .96 goals against average last season, a mark good enough for fourth in the conference. Connolly looks to her final season with the Pioneers with her sights on the record books. Connolly is currently the third winningest goalkeeper in Pioneer history with 21. Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) earned her first All-Empire 8 selection as she was named to the second team last season. Lamphere was fantastic all season as she led Utica with five goals and five assists. Halfway through the season, Lamphere recorded nine points in three matches for the longest point streak in her career while also ranking in the top-five in the Empire 8 with 15 points. Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) earned an All-Empire 8 selection as she was named to the third team. In her first year of collegiate play, Kraft recorded the most minutes on Utica with 1,550, playing in every match last season. She tied with one other defenseman as the only two players to register two goals on the year. 
 
Key Losses: Jenna Keeman (Douglas, MA/Douglas) earned All-Empire 8 Second Team honors, marking the second time in her career she had been named to the second team and an All-E8 team. She anchored the Utica defense that was a top-four unit in scoring defense, allowing just under one goal per game. Keeman finished tied third on the Pioneers with two assists as she finished her collegiate career with 13 points and over 50 games played. Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) received All-Empire 8 Second Team honors, marking the first time in her career she had been named to an all-conference team. Mochak ranked third on Utica with three goals and tied for third with six points. She was also Utica's recipient of the Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year honor last season. 
 
Scouting Morrisville: The Morrisville Mustangs finished the 2023 season with a 6-8-3 record with a 4-2-2 record in conference play. Morrisville is returning nine players this season. Junior Callie Lafontaine is poised for another breakout season with the Mustangs. Lafountain led the team in goals last season with 17 and in points with 37. The Mustangs are welcoming 10 freshmen to the squad. Utica has opened its season against Morriville three times in program history. In the matchup last season, Utica took down the Mustangs 6-1. All time, Utica is 4-0 against the Mustangs. 

Up Next: Utica remains home to take on the Penn College Wildcats. Game time on Wednesday, September 4 from Laura M. Casamento Field is set for 4 p.m.