UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team hits the road for the first time this season, traveling north to take on the SUNY Canton Kangaroos on Tuesday, September 2 at 4pm. The team will then head out west to take on the Blue Devil Clarion Classic, hosted by Fredonia beginning on Friday, September 5. On Saturday, September 6, the Pioneers complete the Blue Devil Clarion Classic by taking on Oswego State in a neutral site matchup at 12:30pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for Tuesday's contest can be found here, and live stats can be found here. Live video for both Friday and Saturday's contests can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: Pioneer women's soccer returned on Friday afternoon,  In a matchup against a tough and experienced Lycoming squad, After a very competitive and exciting opening battle, the Pioneers conceded once at the very end of each half to be dealt a tough 2-1 loss. The Warriors managed to outshoot Utica by a 26-10 margin, beating the Pioneers' in on-target shots by a 14-7 gap. Lycoming was also active on the baseline, securing 14 corners in the game. Despite the result, the game was very close throughout, with the Pioneers even finding the opening score courtesy of Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham). With around 13 minutes remaining in the opening half, a Utica counterattack saw the Lycoming defense bunch up in the middle of the box allowing the Pioneers to send the ball wide, with Lily Martin (Poland, NY/Poland) breaking into open space in a dangerous spot. This prompted Lycoming's keeper to exit the goal, to which Martin slid the ball across and saw Piersma slam it home for the 1-0.
 
Shot Takers: The Pioneer offense has been able to generate offensive opportunities right out of the gate this season, with six different Pioneers recording a shot in just one contest. Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) was able to rifle off three shots, with two on goal. Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) managed to send both of her attempts at the opposing goalkeep for a 1.000 shot on goal percentage last time out. Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) was able to generate some opportunities registering a pair of shots, while newcomers Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh), and Krista Panko (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) each made their presence known with an attempt a piece. 
 
Defenders Assemble: The Pioneer defense, led during the afternoon by Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach) and Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), snuffed out nearly every Lycoming attempt, neutralizing the Warriors' three-headed monster and keeping the game in their favor. Giovingo, the senior defender, played very strong against a potent Lycoming attack, calmly dispossessing many Warriors inside the Utica box.
 
Goalkeeping Prowess: Goalkeeping duo Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) and Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) put their skills on display, after facing a combined 26 shots in the first contest. Duro, who recorded her sixth career start, managed a .875 save percentage after facing 12 shot attempts and having to make seven saves. Pcola, making her seventh career appearance bewteen the pipes for the Pioneers, came in relief in the second half, making five saves on 14 shot attempts. The two have combined for a .857 save percentage after the first contest. 
 
A Look at Canton: In the first week of the season, the SUNY Canton Kangaroos have posted an 0-2 record, and have been unable to put themselves in the goal column. The Kangaroos have fallen to fellow Empire 8 Conference member Houghton University in the team's season opener 6-0 on the road, and the fell to Hilbert College by a score of 3-0. Through two games, Canton has allowed 4.5 goals per game to their opponents and a staggering 25.5 shots per game. Shannon Platt has been able to generate the most offensive opportunities for the Kangaroos through two games with four shot attempts, while Hailey Hassos has managed to put her two attempts on opposing goalkeepers. Mackenzie Ryan has done all the work between the pipes for Canton, registering 20 saves on 41 shots faced, with a .690 save percentage through two games. All time against the Kangaroos, the Pioneers are 3-0, with the two teams last squaring off in 2019, where the Pioneers took the matchup by a score of 4-0. 
 
Scouting Fredonia: The Fredonia State Blue Devils have not gotten into the win column through the first two games this season, after falling to California Lutheran, the 2023 National Champion, in a tightly contested matchup 1-0, and falling to California side Occidental College by a score of 3-2. Gabby Irwin and Bronwyn Madden have each been able to find the back of the net for Fredonia through the first two games, with Irwin managing to rifle off seven shots, four of which have fallen on goal. Three other Blue Devils have been able to generate offensive opportunities in Anna Ratchuk, Annie Gondek, and Kacey Mosher. Goalkeepers Casey Fetzner and Abby Szymkowiak have split time in goal for the Blue Devils, with Fetzner posting a .813 save percentage with 13 saves on 29 shot attempts, with three goals allowed. Szymkowiak has managed eight saves on 25 shot attempts with one goal allowed and a .889 save percentage through two games. Last season, the Pioneers squared off against the Blue Devils in the same classic, with the Pioneers falling to Fredonia by a score of 3-1. 
 
Breaking Down the Lakers: The Oswego State Lakers found themselves in the win column after defeating Wilkes College in the team's season opener by a score of 3-1. Courtney Key served as playmaker for the Lakers, managing to find the back of the net twice, while Sabrina Schmitt managed to find her first goal of the season. Key rifled off four shots in the season opener, putting three of which on goal, with Kyla Sustad managed to generate four offensive opportunities of her own. Seven different Lakers have managed to put an attempt on an opposing goalkeeper in one contest. Paytyn Crane took all of the work in goal for Oswego, registering three saves on 11 shot attempts, posting a .750 save percentage with only one goal against. In last season's matchup, the Pioneers fell to the Lakers by a score of 1-0. 
 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home to take on the SUNY Potsdam Bears. Game time from Laura M. Casamento Field is set for 6pm on Tuesday, September 9.