UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set for a two match week. The Pioneers will host the St. John Fisher University Cardinals on Wednesday, September 24, with game time from Laura M. Casamento Field set for 4pm. The team will then travel to Elmira. NY to take on the Elmira College Soaring Eagles. Game time on Saturday, September 27 is set for 1pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team opened the 2025 Empire 8 Conference slate with a statement victory over previously undefeated Houghton University, taking down the Highlanders by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon. Three different Pioneers contributed to the scoring efforts in Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh), and Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels). Hewson and Wagner, along with Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers' offensive efforts with a pair of shots on goal each. Kraft and Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) each recorded a shot on goal. Kraft and Wagner both tallied on another point to their stat lines with an assist each, while Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) managed to get herself involved with a pair of assists. Goalkeeper Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) recorded three saves in the win. 
 
Defensive Player of the Week: Hannah Pcola (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) has been named Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. Pcola nabbed her third win of the season over previously undefeated Houghton University in the team's Empire 8 opener on Saturday. In the 3-1 win over the Highlanders, Pcola managed a .750 save percentage while making three saves with only one goal against through a full 90 minutes. Pcola made another 11 saves in the team's final non-conference contest against Hamilton College, posting a .875 save percentage on the week with a 1.00 goals against average with a total of 14 saves. On the season, Pcola has managed 28 saves with only five goals against, ranking her within the top five on the conference leaderboard in both save percentage and goals against average. 
 
She's Still Got It: Amber Piersma (Cassville, NY/Mount Markham) has been nothing short of a powerhouse this season for the Pioneers. The senior forward has amassed the most goals in the conference so far this season with seven, averaging just shy of one goal per game at .875. Piersma also finds herself in third on the conference leaderboard in shots with 24 for an average of three shots per game, and second in shots on goal 15 for an average of 1.88 shots on goal per game. Piersma also leads the conference in points this season, with seven goals on one assist for 15 points on the season. 
 
Impact Players: There are several Pioneers dotted throughout the conference leaderboards so far this season. Both Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) and Samantha Ferguson (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland) have managed to find their way into the top ten in shots on goal, with Wagner in eights with nine, and Ferguson 10th with eight. The pair, as well as Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) have fallen into the ranks of top goal scorers in the conference as well, with Ferguson's four goals good enough for fifth place, while Kraft and Wagner fall into seventh and eighth respectively with three apiece. In the assist column, Wagner finds herself in second place with four while Samantha Kogut (North Adams, MA/Drury) finds herself with three. Rylee Lamphere (Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville) and Krista Panko (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) have also been able to generate scoring chances this season each with a pair of assists for eighth and ninth on the leaderboard, respectively. 
 
Scouting Fisher: The St. John Fisher Cardinals have posted a 3-3-1 record this season and are 2-0 in Empire 8 play heading into Wednesday's matchup. Fisher has only managed six goals allowed to opponents on the season, and only 36 shots on goal to opponents. Madelyn Wania and Emily Wollingham lead the Cardinals in both goals and assists with three a piece in both categories. Wania leads the Cardinals in shots with a large margin between her and second place Wollingham with 21 and nine shots, respectively. In goal for the Cardinals has been Avery Byrnes, who has posted a .064 goals against average this season, with only three goals allowed. Byrnes has also posted a .857 save percentage with 18 saves on 45 shots faced. Last season, the Pioneers fell to the Cardinals by a score of 2-0 on the road. The last time the Pioneers hosted the Cardinals, in 2023, the contest ended in a 1-1 draw. 
 
A Look at Elmira: The Elmira College Soaring Eagle have posted a 2-5 record on the season and are 1-1 in Empire 8 play. As a team, the Soaring Eagles have allowed 19 goals to opponents this season, with 141 shot attempts allowed, and 75 shots on goal given up to opponents this season. Faith Ingber leads the Elmira offense with three goals on the season, while Anna Chunco has managed to net a pair of goals. The only other Soaring Eagle to find the back of the net is Emily Seiler with one to her name this season. Tierny Krawczyk and Dani Cruz, despite not finding the back of the net, have managed to generate the most offensive chances for Elmira this season with seven shots on goal a piece. Sarah Cantrell has done the most work for Elmira in goal this season, posting a 2.29 goals against average with a .780 save percentage. Cantrell has allowed 13 goals this season, with 46 saves on 113 shots faced. Last season, the Pioneers took the matchup against the Soaring Eagles by a score of 3-0 at home.  
 
Up Next: The team returns home to take on the SUNY Poly Wildcats in a cross-town clash. Game time on Wednesday, October 1 is set for 4pm on Laura M. Casamento Field.