UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set for its final non-conference matchup of the season this week, before opening Empire 8 Conference play this weekend. The Pioneers will take on the nearby Hamilton College Continentals in the team's final non-conference contest of the season on Wednesday, September 17, before opening the 2025 conference slate against the Houghton University Highlanders on Saturday, September 20. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for both matches can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University women's soccer team took the short trip over to Morrisville Friday afternoon to meet the Mustangs in a non-conference tilt. Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) led the way for the visitors, putting in a titanic effort as she patrolled the entire field from her spot on defense while simultaneously slotting in as the game's leading scorer. Kraft collected a brace in the match, with both goals coming from set pieces. Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) got the start on Friday afternoon, playing the first 78 minutes and getting a single save before making way for freshman keeper Avery Lawton (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley), who went on to play the final stages and complete the combined shutout.
 
Where We Stand: With the opening of the 2025 conference slate, the Pioneers currently sit at second in the conference in scoring margin with 1.40. The Pioneers have scored 12 goals this season, and have only allowed five goals. As a team, Utica is averaging 2.40 goals per game, while only allowing one goal per game to opponents. The Pioneers sit at third in the conference in shot attempts with a total of 76 on the season, with the second most shots on goal with 44. Utica has managed the most points in the conference this season, combining for 34 points as a team and averaging 6.40 points per game. 
 
Athlete of the Week: Defender Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) found the back of the net twice for the Pioneers as the team collected a 5-0 win over Morrisville last weekend. Kraft only had two shots in the contest, both of which would find the back of the net. In a 2-0 week for Utica, Kraft managed to get in on the offensive action multiple times, recording five shots with four shots on goal through a full 180 minutes. Kraft also contributed defensively, helping the Pioneers secure not only 2-0 week, but there was not a single goal allowed by the Pioneers in two games, posting clean sheets against both SUNY Potsdam and Morrisville.
 
Getting it Done: Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) managed to find the back of the net for both Pioneer goals against SUNY Potsdam last week in a 2-0 win over the Bears. Against Potsdam, Piersma totaled 11 shots with four falling on goal. Against Morrisville, Piersma completed her five point week with an assist, as well as tallying another shot on goal. Through two games, Piersma averaged 6 shots per game, and has recorded at least one shot on goal in five out of six games this season. Samantha Ferguson (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland) has been pivotal for the Pioneers off the bench this season as well, with four goals and an assist this season. Ferguson has registered 10 shots on the season, with eight shots on goal. Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) and Samantha Kogut (North Adams, MA/Drury) have also been playmakers for the Pioneers this season, each tallying three assists on the season. 
 
No Goals Allowed: Goalkeepers Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) and Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) have been stellar for the Pioneers so far this season. Each keeper has appeared in four games, with each registering three starts. Pcola has only allowed three goals this season, with 14 saves on 39 shots faced. Of the Pioneer goalkeepers, Pcola is the only Pioneer to post a complete clean sheet this season, combining with Duro for another shutout effort. Pcola's marks this season have been good enough to slot her into the top five in the conference in several goalkeeping categories, including goals against average, saves, and saves per game. Duro has only allowed two goals this season with 13 saves on 27 shots faced. Duro has posted two combined shutouts this season, combining with Pcola for one, and Josephine O'Hare (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central) for another. Combined, the Pioneers have a staggering 0.83 goals against average, with a 0.844 save percentage. 
 
Scouting Hamilton: The Hamilton College Continentals have posted a 1-2-1 record on the season and are 0-2-1 in NESCAC play. As a team, the Continentals have allowed five goals to opponents this season, while giving up 16.5 shots per game. Four different Continentals have managed to find the back of the net this season in Diana Baffor, Sarah Flood, Isabel Harvey, and Maddie Ledbury who have each registered a goal. Harvey leads the team in shot attempts with nine, as well as shots on goal with five. Flood has also been able to generate offensive chances for Hamilton, registering seven shot attempts on the season, with three shots on goal. Nieve Tonna has been doing all of the work in goal for Hamilton, allowing five goals on the season with 20 saves after 44 shots faced. Tonna has posted a .800 save percentage with a 1.25 goals against average on the season. Last season, the Pioneers squared off against the Continentals on the road, falling by a score of 4-0. 
 
A Look at Houghton: The Houghton University Highlanders have posted a 4-0-1 record this season, and will open their conference slate against the Pioneers this weekend. The Highlanders have yet to give up a goal to an opponent this season, and have averaged four goals per game as a team. The Highlanders have managed to generate over 100 shot attempts in five games, with over 60 shots on goal. A pair of Highlanders in Elena Esh and Hope Russell have each managed to find the back of the net four times this season, with Taylor Curyto and Gracelyn Williams each finding the back of the net three times. Curyto leads the team in points with 11, with her three goals and a team high five assists. Russell has been the one to generate the most offensive chances for Houghton with 25 shots on the season and 17 shots on goal. Presslee Miller has gotten the brunt of the work this season in goal for the Highlanders, netting three clean sheet efforts, with 22 saves on 30 shots faced. Against the Highlanders, the Pioneers are 5-6-2 all time, with last season's matchup ending 1-0 in favor of Houghton.
 
Up Next: The Pioneers remain home to take on the St. John Fisher University Cardinals. Game time on Wednesday, September 24 is set for 1pm from Laura M. Casamento Field.