UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set to begin its quest for its first Empire 8 Conference title since 2019. On Saturday, November 1, the team will travel to take on the fourth-seeded Hartwick College Hawks in the opening round of the 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. Game time from Oneonta, NY is set for 1pm. 
 
Ticketing Information: For those who wish to attend, admission will be $10 for adults, $2 for students with ID and seniors, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are to be paid in cash only. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
How We Got Here: The Pioneers secured the fifth seed in the conference tournament after Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Keuka College Wolves. Utica has produced one of the most high powered offenses in the conference this season, with a total of 38 goals and a 1.55 scoring margin. For almost the entirety of the season, the Pioneer offense has managed to average over two goals per game. Only one other team in the conference, St. John Fisher, has found the back of the net more times this season than the Pioneers with 43 goals. In conference competition, the Pioneers have been able to find the back of the net over 20 times this season, while only allowing a total of four goals in conference play to opponents, the third lowest mark amongst teams this season. Aside from the offensive successes, Utica's back line has been rather successful this season, allowing less than 100 shots on goal to opponents through all 18 games this season, which has been a large contributor to the .360 goals against average posted by the Pioneers this season. The Pioneers' goalkeeping has remained stout throughout the season, posting the third highest save percentage in conference games at .917, with a total of 44 saves. On the season, Pioneer goalkeepers have combined for a .891 save percentage and .560 goals against average. 
 
A Look at the Field: The tournament seeding and tournament schedule is as follows:
Seeding:
No. 1 – SUNY Brockport (31 points, 10-0-1 E8, 12-1-4 Overall)
No. 2 – St. John Fisher University (28 points, 9-1-1 E8, 10-4-2 Overall)
No. 3 – Nazareth University (20 points, 6-3-2 E8, 8-6-3 Overall)
No. 4 – Hartwick College (19 points, 5-2- E8, 8-3-6 Overall)
No. 5 – Utica University (19 points, 5-2-4 E8, 8-5-5 Overall)
No. 6 – SUNY Geneseo (19 points, 5-2-4 E8, 5-5-7 Overall)
No. 7 – Houghton University (17 points, 5-4-2 E8, 11-4-3 Overall)
No. 8 – Alfred University (11 points, 3-6-2 E8, 7-9-2 Overall)
 
Schedule: 
Saturday, November 1 – Quarterfinals 
No. 8 Alfred at No. 1 SUNY Brockport – 4 p.m.
No. 7 Houghton at No. 2 St. John Fisher – 3 p.m.
No. 6 SUNY Geneseo at No. 3 Nazareth – 2 p.m.
No. 5 Utica at No. 4 Hartwick – 1 p.m.
 
Wednesday, November 5 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of SUNY Brockport/Alfred vs. Winner of Hartwick/Utica – TBA
Winner of St. John Fisher/Houghton vs. Winner of Nazareth/SUNY Geneseo – TBA 
 
Saturday, November 8 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal Game 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal Game 2 – TBA
 
Breaking Down Hartwick: The Hartwick College Hawks have posted an 8-3-6 record this season and are 5-2-4 in conference play. As a team this season, the Hawks have managed to find the back of the net 20 times while only allowing 11 goals to opponents during the regular season, with 14 of Harwick's goals coming in conference play, while allowing nine goals to opponents. In conference play, the Hawks have managed to total 134 shot opportunities, with only a total of 70 falling on goal. The Pioneers have outshot the Hawks per conference game this season, with the Pioneers averaging 14.91 shots per game to the Hawk's 12.18. Hartwick goalkeepers have kept conference opposition in check this season, posting a .820 goals against average with a .830 save percentage with a total of 44 saves in conference play. Leading the Hawks offense this season has been Millie Caldon, who has registered four goals this season. A pair of Hawks in Ella Grupe and Olivia Farnham have each managed to find the back of the net three times, while eight other Hawks have at least one goal to their names this season. Caldon leads the team in shot attempts with 47, while Grupe leads the team in shots on goal with 23. Mikayla Piersa has done almost all of the work in goal for the Hawks this season, posting a conference leading six shutouts this season with a .630 goals against average and a .867 save percentage. Last time out against the Hawks this season, the Pioneers fell by a score of 1-0 at home. All time against Hartwick, the Pioneers have posted a 10-16-5 record, with a 4-7-4 record when the Pioneers take on the Hawks on the road. In the last 10 meetings between the two teams, the Pioneers take the edge with a 4-3-3 record. 
 
Up Next: With a win, the Pioneers will advance to the semifinal round of the 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Tournament. Utica would take on the winner of SUNY Brockport and Alfred at the higher seed on Wednesday, November 5 with a game time that is to be determined.