UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set for a pair of matches this week. On Wednesday, October 15 the team will host the Hartwick College Hawks with a game time from Laura M. Casamento Field set for 6pm. On Saturday, October 18, the team will travel to Rochester, NY to take on the Nazareth University Golden Flyers with a game time set for 1pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats can be found here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team took down the Alfred University Saxons in the team's senior day showdown by a score of 4-0 on Saturday afternoon. Four different Pioneers managed to find the back of the net in Sofia Fini (Campbell Hall, NY/Goshen), Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton), Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville), and Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham). Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) and Lamphere were also able to register their names on the scoresheet in the form of an assist. Bell led the Pioneer attacking efforts with a team high five shot attempts, while Lamhere, Piersma and Lily Martin (Poland, NY/Poland) were each able to put a pair of shots on goal each. Starting in goal for the Pioneers was Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) who combined with Josephine O'Hare (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central) for the shutout effort, with each goalkeeper not having to make a save. 
 
Record Watch: Samanta Kogut is still on pace to become the next Utica University Women's Soccer Ironwoman. Sitting at a total of 5659 career minutes, Kogut just needs 75 minutes in the remainder of the season to break the record of 5733, set back in 2020 by Summer Gagnon. As for games played and games started, Kogut currently sits at 69 career games played and 65 games started. The record for games played is currently set at 71 by Abby Reilly back in 2018, and Kogut only needs to appear in three more games this season to break the record. For games started, the record of 69 games was set back in 2006 by Tessa Malcarne, which would mean that Kogut breaks the record after starting five more games this season. The Pioneers have four more regular season games remaining on the schedule, with the possibility of playoff action adding to the totals for Kogut. 
 
Goalkeeping Prowess: Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) registered another two clean sheet efforts last week, posting her fourth shutout of the season against Russell Sage, while having to make three saves. Pcola was also the starting goalkeeper in a combined shutout effort in the Pioneers 4-0 rout of Alfred, recording 81 minutes of scoreless action. Pcola's efforts this season have landed her within the top five in multiple categories in the conference. In goals against average Pcola has posted the third best mark with a 0.577 average with only six goals allowed this season. Pcola has also found herself in second on the conference leaderboard in saves with a .889 save percentage through 12 games with a total of 48 saves. 
 
Goals Galore: As a team this season, the Pioneers have managed to find the back of the net 34 times, a mark that is good enough to lead the conference. The Pioneers' average of 2.43 goals per game also leads the conference, with the Pioneers scoring the first goal of the game the second most times in the conference with eight. Leading the Pioneers offensive charge continues to be Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham), who continues to lead the conference in the goal column with 10 goals this season. In conference games, Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) has found herself on the leaderboard with four goals in conference games this season. 
 
Point Producers: As a team, the Pioneers have produced 93 points this season, a mark that leads the conference in both total, and points per game with an average of 6.64. With 22 total points this season, Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) leads the conference with her 10 goals and two assists, averaging over a point and a half per game this season. 15 Pioneers have managed to register at least one point this season, which has exceeded last season's total of 11. 
 
Scouting Hartwick: The Hartwick College Hawks have posted a 6-2-5 record this season and are 3-1-3 in Empire 8 play. As a team this season, the Hartwick Hawks have managed to find the back of the net 17 times, and have only allowed seven goals to opponents. The Hawks have registered 167 shot attempts on the season, while only allowing 126 attempts to opponents. A trio of Hawks lead the team in offensive production, each recording three goals this season in Ella Crupe, Millie Caldon, and Olivia Farnham. Six other Hawks have managed to find the back of the net this season. Grupe and Caldon lead the Hawks in shot attempts this season, each with 35, while Grupe has the edge in shots on goal by one with 18 and Caldon with 17. In goal for the Hawks has been Mikayla Piersa, who has posted a .897 save percentage on the season, with a goals against average of 0.50 after allowing six goals on the season. Piersa's marks are good enough for second in the conference in goals against average, and are good enough to lead the conference in save percentage. Last season, the Pioneers squared off against the Hawks in Oneonta, with the contest ending in a 1-1 draw. At home against the Hawks, the Pioneers sport a 6-8 record, and have a 5-2-3 record in the last 10 meetings between the two teams. 
 
A Look at Naz: The Nazareth University Golden Flyers have posted a 5-2-2 record on the season, and are 3-2-1 in Empire 8 play. The Golden Flyers have combined for 15 goals this season, while giving up a total of 12 goals to opponents. Nazareth has also combined for a total of 193 shot attempts this season, while allowing 121 attempts to opponents. Leading the Golden Flyers has been Tatum Overton, who has managed to find the back of the net four times this season. Nazareth has been able to spread the wealth this season, with nine other players being able to find the back of the net at least once. Shannon Sgombick leads Nazareth in both shots and shots on goal with 29 shot attempts and 16 shots on goal this season. Overton has managed to fire off 22 shots this season, with only eight on goal. Delaney Malone has done most of the work in goal for Nazareth, spotting a 1.13 goals against average this season, and a .750 save percentage through 86 shots faced. Last season against Nazareth, the Pioneers fell by a score of 2-1 at home. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home for the team's final home non-conference contest, hosting the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles. Game time from Laura M. Casamento Field on Saturday, October 25 is set for 1pm.