UTICA, NY - Postseason play has arrived in the U this week, as the men's soccer team gets set to host first-round action, while field hockey and women's soccer prepare to travel for the opening rounds of Empire 8 Tournament play. Also on the schedule, both hockey teams officially get their respective seasons underway with a pair of matchups against top-tier opponents, while football hits the road for a major matchup against a strong St. John Fisher squad. Read about all that, and so much more, in order to get ready for all the orange and blue action!
 
Catch up on last week's action and get ready for this week's events with our Pioneer Primer!
 
To Read About a Specific Team, Click the Team Below:
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Men's Ice Hockey
Women's Ice Hockey
Women's Soccer
Men's Soccer
Volleyball
 
Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) - Women's Soccer
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - Football


 
This Week in Utica Athletics:
Check out the Composite Schedule for complete schedule details - Link: https://uticapioneers.com/calendar
 
Home games are bolded and highlighted in Orange:
Playoff games are bolded and italicized
 
Wednesday, October 28th
4:00 PM - Field Hockey at Hartwick | Wright Stadium
 
Friday, October 30th
4:00 PM - Women's Ice Hockey vs William Smith | Utica University Nexus Center
7:00 PM - Men's Ice Hockey at #8/8 Adrian | Arrington Ice Arena
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Nazareth | Miga Court
 
Saturday, October 31st
11:00 AM - Women's Soccer at Nazareth (Empire 8 First Round) | Golden Flyer Stadium
11:00 AM - Women's Cross Country at Empire 8 | SUNY Poly Cross Country Course
12:00 PM - Men's Cross Country at Empire 8 | SUNY Poly Cross Country Course
12:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs St. John Fisher (Senior Day) | Miga Court
2:00 PM - Football at St. John Fisher | Growney Stadium
3:00 PM - Men's Ice Hockey at #8/8 Adrian | Arrington Ice Arena
4:00 PM - Women's Ice Hockey at William Smith | The Cooler
6:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Hartwick (Empire 8 First Round) | Casamento Field
TBD - Field Hockey vs TBD (Empire 8 First Round)
 
For live streaming and live stats information for all Pioneer matchups visit "This Week's Live Coverage" under the "Inside Athletics" tab at the top of the website, or click this link: https://uticapioneers.com/coverage 
 
WEEKLY PREVIEWS:
 
Cross Country - Utica's men's and women's cross country are set to take on the 2026 Empire 8 Cross Country Championship this week, after a break in action last week.
 
Last Year's Championship:
Men: The team earned a second-place finish out of 11 teams at the 2025 Empire 8 Championship, totaling 72 points behind team champion SUNY Geneseo. Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) led the Pioneers with an individual championship, crossing the finish line in 25:34.2, 24.2 seconds ahead of the runner-up. The Pioneers placed five runners inside the top 25, finishing 10 points ahead of third-place Houghton and 30 ahead of fourth-place Brockport.
 
Women: The team earned a fifth-place finish out of nine scoring teams at the 2025 Empire 8 Championship. Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the Pioneers with a fifth-place individual finish, completing the 6k course in 22:55.7. Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) followed with a 15th-place finish, crossing the line in 23:47.7. Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) (24:57.6) and Emma Charboneau (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) (26:37.3) were the next Pioneers to finish.
 
Trax Fax:

• Melita has finished inside the top five in all four of his appearances this season. His Rowan title joins an opening-season victory at SUNY Poly, a fifth-place finish at Hamilton, and a runner-up showing at Fredonia.
• Bauer earned his fourth top-10 finish in five appearances with Saturday's eighth-place result. He and Melita have both finished inside the top 10 in each of the four meets in which they have competed together.
• Townsend has led the Pioneer women in all four of her appearances this season. She and Manna gave Utica two top-50 finishers at Rowan, crossing 58 seconds apart.
• Arnhold finished third among the Pioneers for the second consecutive meet in which she competed. Utica's women used the same scoring five in the same finishing order at Fredonia and Rowan: Townsend, Manna, Arnhold, Simmons, and Fobare.

 
Up Next: Both teams continue postseason action on Saturday, November 14 as both teams travel to the 2026 NCAA Niagara Regional, hosted by SUNY Fredonia. The women's race is set to begin at 11am, with the men following at 12pm.
 
Field Hockey - Field Hockey wraps up the regular season this Wednesday with a road matchup against the Empire 8's #2-ranked team, Hartwick. The Pioneers will battle the Hawks with playoff positioning hanging in the balance, as the orange and blue can finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the conference standings. Once the regular season wraps up, the Pioneers will turn their attention to Saturday's Empire 8 First Round contest, which will take place at a place to be determined, and against an opponent to be determined.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs St. John Fisher | Wednesday, October 21st

• L, 4-1 (Reilly - 1g, Crayton - 1a)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The Pioneers took on St. John Fisher in the team's final regular-season home game of the 2026 campaign this past Wednesday, battling strong against a Cardinal team that came to play as the team fell 4-1, despite remaining close for a majority of the contest. The Cardinals would score once in every quarter to stay ahead, but Delaney Reilly (Marathon, NY/Marathon) provided some hope for the Pioneers, putting away a pass from Adele Crayton (Hudson, NY/Taconic Hills) to make it 3-1 and get the hosts back into the matchup.
• Crayton continued her points streak during the contest, cementing her fourth appearance in a row that resulted in offensive point production. The freshman has scored four goals and racked up three assists in her last four games, breaking out as she had only put up one point across her first 11 games of play at the collegiate level.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Hartwick College - Wednesday, October 28th, 4:00 PM | Oneonta, NY
Empire 8 Tournament First Round - Saturday, October 31st | TBD
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers have plenty to play for on Wednesday, despite already clinching a postseason berth for the first time since the 2023 season. The team is currently ranked #6 in the Empire 8, but would be the #4 seed with a win over Hartwick and a Brockport loss on Wednesday. The youth-laden Pioneer team holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over current #4 Brockport thanks to a 3-2 Senior Day triumph, but they lose individual head-to-head to current #5 St. John Fisher due to last week's 4-1 loss. The Pioneers would be the #5 seed with a win, a Brockport win, and a Fisher loss. With any other result, the team is the #6 seed heading into Saturday's first round. If Brockport wins or the Pioneers lose, Utica will be on the road for a first-round game as either the #5 or #6 seed.
• The team's potent playmaking continued this past week, as the Pioneers found an assist on their lone goal against St. John Fisher to move their season total to 30 goals and 30 assists. The Pioneers' stellar chemistry has been a point of emphasis all season, and is even more impressive considering three of the program's top four assist-getters are freshmen who are spending their first season in the collegiate ranks. Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) and senior Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) lead the team with six assists each, while Adele Crayton (Hudson, NY/Taconic Hills) has four assists and the trio of Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown), Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls), and Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) each have three playmakers.

Upcoming Opponents:
Hartwick College

• Record: 10-5 (7-1 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Hawks enter Wednesday's matchup riding a three-game winning streak after earning a 3-1 victory over St. John Fisher on this Saturday. Hartwick opened the week with a dominant 6-1 road win over Russell Sage on October 21, scoring six unanswered goals after conceding the opening goal. Before that, the Hawks defeated Oswego State, 4-0, on October 17, bouncing back from a 2-1 overtime loss to #10 ranked Cortland. Hartwick has been extremely strong in conference play this season, with their lone loss coming at the hands of Geneseo by a score of 3-1. They are currently the #2 ranked team in the Empire 8.
• Stat Leaders: Senior midfielder Hope Angioletti has been one of Hartwick's most dangerous offensive players, recently reaching 12 goals on the season while providing a playmaking presence in the midfield to the tune of a league-leading 13 assists. Angioletti currently ranks #6 in the conference for scoring, #2 in assisting, and #3 in total points with 39. Katelyn Klotz has also been a major scoring threat, recording two goals in the victory over St. John Fisher, including the game-winning penalty stroke and a second-half insurance goal. Kayla Kinkel and Makayla Bales have provided additional scoring depth, with both finding the back of the cage in the Russell Sage win. In goal, junior South Glens Falls native Ava Reynolds has been a reliable presence, making five saves in the recent victory over St. John Fisher while helping Hartwick limit the Cardinals to one goal.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick has established itself as one of the Empire 8's most productive teams, combining a potent offense with consistent defensive performances. The Hawks demonstrated their scoring depth in the 6-1 win over Russell Sage, with six different players finding the back of the cage after falling behind early. Hartwick also held a 14-9 advantage in shots and an 11-6 edge in penalty corners against St. John Fisher, using sustained pressure to create scoring opportunities and close out the 3-1 victory. Outside of their balance, the Hawks also possess an all-league talent in Angioletti, which makes their attack extremely hard to stunt. The Pioneers have eliminated the threat of a potent offense as recently as the Brockport matchup, getting the job done by sustaining possession for long spurts of the contest. The team will have to get out in front, and not play constant defense against a tough Hartwick team.

Up Next: The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Wednesday night and will see the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament finally take shape as the team gears up for its first postseason appearance since 2023. An official playoff preview will be released on Friday afternoon, so keep an eye on our social media and athletics website!

Football - Football heads down the thruway for a titanic tilt this weekend, taking on a St. John Fisher squad that nearly toppled Cortland in the Dragon's Den this past week. This game is a pivotal matchup for a Pioneer team looking to make its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, as the orange and blue almost certainly control their own destiny thanks to a high ranking in the official NPI.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Alfred University | Saturday, October 24th
            W, 35-0 (Lake - 4 tackles, 1 int, 1 QB hurry, 1 pbu, Davis - 4 tackles, 1 sack, Fernand -
2 ints, Yeomas - 48 yards, 2 TDs)
 
Trax Fax:

• With the 35-0 win this past Saturday, the Pioneers recorded their first home shutout since a November 11th, 2023 game against St. John Fisher, where the Pioneers won 14-0. It was also just the second home shutout since a 2012 contest against Frostburg State, which no longer resides in the Division III ranks.
• The team also allowed just six total rushing yards to the Saxons, the team's lowest total since a 2024 contest against Hartwick, where the Pioneers allowed just a single ground yard. That powerful defensive performance, along with a stellar day by the Pioneer rushing committee, allowed the team to hold the ball for over 40 minutes for the first time since a 2023 shutout against Alfred University, a game that the orange and blue won 28-0 over at Yunevich Stadium.
• Davis was stellar in the trenches for the Pioneers during the win, plugging gaps up front and leading a defensive unit that allowed just six rushing yards to Tommy Nyquist and a strong Saxon running game. Davis got involved with four tackles, three of which were solo, along with a sack and an additional quarterback hurry, providing a powerful presence at the line that stopped all Saxon momentum during the shutout.
• Linebacker Andrew Lake (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) was heavily involved in the Pioneers' dominant defensive display on Saturday, turning in a versatile outing as he locked down the Saxon rushing attack, got involved in the pass defense, and tackled well in the open field. Lake was everywhere on Saturday, grabbing four tackles, two of which were solo, along with an interception, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
• Tahjir Fernand (Fort Lauderdale, FL/New Rochelle) helped to blanket the Alfred University passing game, as he spent the afternoon matching up with Alfred's best receiver Cameron Lew, allowing just a single catch to the big junior. Fernand also made his presence felt in the turnover battle, as he intercepted two passes to help the Pioneers achieve a big victory. Fernand became the first Pioneer player since the team's 2022 NCAA Tournament First Round win over Susquehanna to have multiple interceptions in a single game. Jamel Smith recorded a hat trick of picks in that historic matchup.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
St. John Fisher

• Record: 5-2
  • Vs FDU-Florham - W, 38-8
  • At St. Lawrence - W, 30-10
  • Vs Rochester - W, 14-13
  • At Alfred University - W, 33-15
  • At Brockport - L, 28-38
  • Vs Hartwick - W, 27-13
  • At #11 Cortland - L, 20-28

Recent Matchups:

• Against Cortland: St. John Fisher suffered a tight 28-20 road loss to #11 nationally ranked Cortland this past weekend, dropping to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Empire 8 play. Despite the setback, this was one of the closest games that Cortland had seen in conference play over the last five or six years, and is a testament to the strength of this new-look Cardinal squad. The Cardinals stayed within striking distance but struggled to contain the Red Dragons' rushing attack, which produced 195 yards and four touchdowns. Fisher managed 246 rushing yards of its own against SUNY Brockport earlier in the season, but was held to just 107 yards on the ground against Cortland.
• Against Hartwick: The Cardinals sandwiched a 27-13 home victory over Hartwick in between their two losses on the season, taking down the Hawks a few weeks ago. The Cardinals produced 456 total yards, including 183 rushing and 273 passing, while the defense recorded six tackles for loss and five sacks. Fisher's ability to generate pressure helped limit the Hawks to 13 points and move the Cardinals to 5-1 on the season.
• Against Brockport: Prior to that Harwick win, the Cardinals fell 38-28 to SUNY Brockport on October 3 in the annual Courage Bowl. Fisher's offense generated 295 total yards, including 252 through the air, but the defense surrendered 246 rushing yards and three passing touchdowns. The Cardinals roared out to a 14-0 lead, but a Brockport offense led by sophomore dual-threat QB Zymier Jackson was able to rally, securing a win in the rivalry matchup.

Stat Leaders:

• Offense
  • QB Ryan Whitney: 131 completions on 205 attempts, 1,622 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions, 63.9% completion rate, 522 rushing yards on 114 carries, 10 touchdowns, 4.6 yards per carry.
  • WR Jackson Cusack: 40 receptions, 543 receiving yards, four touchdowns, 13.6 yards per catch.
  • WR Gavin Horton: 25 receptions, 369 receiving yards, two touchdowns, 14.8 yards per catch.
  • WR Mykel White: 15 receptions, 215 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 14.3 yards per catch.
• Defense
  • LB Timothy Vanderbrink: 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry.
  • LB Kyle DaMore: 50 tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries.
  • DB Eric Sparkman: 46 tackles, four pass breakups.
  • DB Micah Harshfield: 42 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups.
  • DL Jack Bierman: 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two quarterback hurries.

What to Watch For: St. John Fisher enters Saturday averaging 27.1 points and 355.6 yards of total offense per game, while allowing 17.9 points and 273.4 yards per contest. The Cardinals have leaned heavily on their passing game, averaging 238.7 yards through the air compared to 116.9 on the ground. Whitney has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,622 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 522 yards and 10 scores. His dual-threat production makes him the focal point of the Fisher offense.

Cusack is Whitney's top receiving target, leading the Cardinals with 543 yards and four touchdowns on 40 catches. Horton adds another explosive option with 369 receiving yards, while White has found the end zone three times. The Pioneers will need to be on their toes against a multi-dimensional Cardinal attack, as they'll have to account for all sorts of play types.

Defensively, Fisher has allowed just 273.4 yards per game and recorded 13 sacks through seven contests. Bierman leads the Cardinals with four sacks and seven tackles for loss, while Vanderbrink and DaMore headline a productive tackling unit. Harshfield has also made an impact in coverage with two interceptions and six pass breakups. The Cardinals have been particularly effective against opposing passing attacks, allowing only 158.9 passing yards per game. Just like last week, the Pioneers will need to establish their rushing attack to keep Fisher's defense honest while giving quarterback Szalkowski time to find his receivers downfield.

Series History: Saturday will mark the 25th meeting between Utica and St. John Fisher, with the Cardinals holding a 16-8 advantage in the all-time series. However, the Pioneers have controlled the matchup in recent years, winning seven consecutive meetings from 2018 through 2025 and eight of the last 10 contests. Utica's most recent victory came last season at Gaetano Stadium, where the Pioneers earned a 31-7 win. Utica built a 24-7 halftime lead and added another touchdown in the third quarter, while its defense kept Fisher off the scoreboard in the first and second halves apart from a single second-quarter touchdown. The Pioneers also defeated the Cardinals 35-20 on the road in 2024 and 14-0 at home in 2023, extending their recent dominance in the series.
 
Up Next: Football will head south for its second straight road game, taking on Hartwick in the penultimate matchup of the regular season. That game against the Hawks gets underway at 1:00 PM down at Wright Stadium. The team will also cap off the regular season with a big battle against Brockport, welcoming the Golden Eagles to Gaetano for a November 14th Senior Day tilt.

Men's Hockey - The #6 Pioneers officially open the regular season this weekend with a pair of road matchups against #8 Adrian. The team will look to parlay its success during an excellent exhibition outing into a couple of crucial contests as they look for some revenge against an Adrian team that took two from the Pioneers in the NBT Bank Arena to begin last season. The Pioneers had a lot to be excited about during their 6-1 win over Skidmore, getting massive contributions from their senior-laden core, and even bigger outings from their array of freshmen and new transfer players.

This Week's Schedule:
At #8 Adrian College - Friday, October 30th, 7:00 PM | Adrian, MI
At #8 Adrian College - Saturday, October 31st, 3:00 PM | Adrian, MI
 
Trax Fax:

• The orange and blue were stellar during their season-opening 6-1 exhibition win over a tough Skidmore side, deftly defeating a Thoroughbred team that returned its top eight point-getters from a 2025-2026 campaign that saw them reach the SUNYAC Semifinals. The Pioneers scored twice in each period to secure revenge for last season's exhibition defeat.
• The team got some big contributions from its returning group of seniors, as Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, Ontario/St. Michael's Catholic) won 10 out of 14 faceoffs, Eric Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/St. Michael Christian) racked up a pair of assists, and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/East Grand Rapids) was one of three players who finished with a goal and an assist in the action. However, it was the team's new additions that shone brightest in the contest, as four different Pioneers recorded their first goals in the orange and blue.
• Junior transfer Paul Minnehan (Cypress, CA/Pacifica) finished as the first star of the night after notching the game's opening goal and assisting on the team's fifth score. The former Pioneer (at Sacred Heart) fit seamlessly into Utica's formation, much like the team's group of stellar freshmen, including first-time goal scorers Jakub Galnor (Prerov, Czechia), Evan Dantas (Brampton, ON/Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic), and Caden Ghiossi (San Jose, CA/Bellarmine). Dantas was especially effective, slotting away a rocket from the slot for the Pioneers' only power-play goal, while also adding an assist for a two-point night.
• In net, the Pioneers tried out three different goaltenders, all three of whom were making their first career starts for the team, with all three also posting spectacular showings in their first game action. Senior Division I transfer Mitchell Day (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) started the evening off by recording seven saves against the Thoroughbreds' top attack, looking poised and confident. Freshman Michael Modelski (New Boston, MI/Connections Academy) would take over for the second period of play, notching six saves and recording a 20-minute shutout in his collegiate debut. Then, to cap off the evening, fellow freshman Waylon Esche (Utica, NY/Westmoreland) would enter for the final period, recording a team-high 11 saves while making multiple acrobatic stops. All three goaltenders looked strong, and combined to produce a great look into this year's goaltender room.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
#8 Adrian College

• 2025-26 Record: 20-7-1 overall, 14-3-1 in NCHA play.
• Last Season: Adrian opened its 2025-26 campaign with a two-game sweep against the Pioneers at the NBT Bank Arena, earning victories of 3-1 and 5-3 on October 31 and November 1. The Bulldogs eventually captured the NCHA regular-season championship over stellar programs such as Trine and St. Norbert, even beating out eventual Division III Frozen Four participant Aurora for the title. They finished the year averaging five goals per game while allowing just two. Adrian went on three different win streaks of four, five, and six games during the season, but ultimately fell short of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season after going 0-5 against Aurora, falling to the Spartans 6-2 in the Harris Cup Semifinals to wrap up the campaign.
• Returning Stat Leaders: Forward Ryan Vellucci returns after recording 17 points on seven goals and 10 assists last season. Jack O'Hanisain added 18 points, including six goals and 12 assists, while Ben Loreto contributed 13 points with 12 assists from the blue line. Nathaniel Bannister also returns after posting 17 points, including five goals and 12 assists, and Ayden Peters returns after contributing five points. Will Bowman and Anton Sorensen provide additional returning depth. Adrian will have to replace much of its top-end production, as leading scorer Ian Amsbaugh (49 points), Bradley Somers (38 points), Jacob Suede (32 points) and David Clarke (32 points) all departed following the 25-26 campaign. The Bulldogs also have a new group of goaltenders listed for 2026-27, with former Pioneer Ryan Piros also departing, making that position one to monitor early in the season.
• What to Watch For: Adrian averaged 5.0 goals and 38.9 shots per game last season, outshooting opponents by an average of 16 shots per contest. The Bulldogs converted 26.3 percent of their power-play opportunities, scoring 30 times on 114 chances, while allowing opponents to score on 18.3 percent of their power plays. The Bulldogs opened their 2026-27 schedule with a 2-2 tie against Trine during an exhibition on October 24. The Pioneers will have to be on their toes against a hungry Bulldog team looking to make its return to the NCAA Tournament.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers will continue their annual early-season gauntlet with a pair of games against current #2 Hobart College. The team welcomes the Statesmen for a Thursday, November 5th matchup, which will officially open the Pioneers' 26-27 home season, before heading to Geneva that Saturday for a November 7th game at the Cooler. The Thursday tilt gets underway at 7:00, while Saturday's showdown kicks off at 4:00 PM.
 
Women's Hockey - Women's hockey opens its 26th regular season with a home-and-home series against William Smith after winning both preseason exhibitions. The Pioneers will host the Herons on Friday before traveling to Geneva on Saturday, renewing a matchup last played in February 2020.
 
Last Week's Results (Preseason)
Vs Lebanon Valley | Saturday, October 17th

• W, 4-2 (Frear - 2g, 1a; DiGrazia - 3a; Collins - 1g, 1a; Fatiev - 14 saves)

At #8/8 Wilkes | Friday, October 23rd

• W, 3-1

 
Last Week's Action:
Lebanon Valley: Utica erased a two-goal deficit against Lebanon Valley, scoring four unanswered goals to earn a 4-2 exhibition victory. Autumn Frear (Marshall, VA/Gilmour Academy) recorded two goals and an assist, while Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/Homeschooled) supplied three assists and Katie Collins (Ithaca, NY/Lovell Academy) added a goal and an assist. Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) also scored, Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/Huron) contributed two assists, and Penny Saich (Norwell, MA/Norwell) added one. Katie Sheahan (Oak Lawn, IL/North American Hockey Academy) made 13 saves, while Yael Fatiev (Kiryat Shmona, Israel/Ontario Hockey Academy) stopped all 14 shots she faced during regulation. The teams also completed practice overtime and shootout sessions following the regulation result.
 
Following regulation, the teams held agreed-upon practice overtime and shootout sessions. Dobrzynski scored during three-on-three play, while Lebanon Valley won the shootout, 1-0.

Wilkes: The Pioneers closed their preseason with a 3-1 road victory over Wilkes, ranked #8 in both the USCHO and DIIIHockeyNews polls. Utica reversed the score of last season's meeting with the Colonels to finish its two-game exhibition schedule unbeaten.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs William Smith | Friday, October 30th | 4:00 PM | Utica University Nexus Center
At William Smith | Saturday, October 31st | 4:00 PM | The Cooler
 
Trax Fax:

• Frear and Collins combined for three of Utica's four regulation goals against Lebanon Valley, with each adding an assist in her first collegiate exhibition.
• Dobrzynski returns after earning UCHC All-Rookie honors with a team-high 15 points last season. Jerome was an Empire 8 Second Team selection after scoring four goals, including three on the power play.
• Sheahan posted a .926 save percentage, a 2.13 goals-against average, and four shutouts as a freshman. Fatiev joins the goaltending group with international experience representing Israel's senior national team.
• Utica holds a 7-4-1 series advantage over William Smith, including a 4-1-1 home record. The Herons won the last three meetings by one goal apiece, most recently taking a 2-1 decision on February 22, 2020.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
William Smith

• 2025-26 Record: The Herons finished 12-15-0 overall and 7-7-0 in conference play last season. They defeated SUNY Canton 3-2 in overtime in their postseason opener before losing 7-0 at Plattsburgh.
• Last Season's Top Skaters: Returning forwards Bella Hacker and Finley Crosby shared the team scoring lead with 14 points each. Hacker led William Smith with eight goals, while Crosby contributed seven goals and seven assists.
• Returning Goalie Leaders: Mia Iwicki returns after recording 675 saves, a .927 save percentage, a 2.62 goals-against average, and three shutouts across 21 appearances. Fellow returning goaltender Julia Echavarria posted a .932 save percentage in five appearances.
• What to Watch For: Special teams could prove significant after William Smith converted seven of 70 power plays last season while killing 61 of 70 opposing opportunities. The Herons averaged 1.78 goals scored and 2.44 goals allowed per game.

 
Up Next: Utica continues its early non-conference schedule with another home-and-home series, this time against Oswego State. The Pioneers visit the Lakers at Marano Campus Center Arena on Friday, November 6th, before hosting the return matchup at the Nexus Center on Saturday, November 7th. Both games begin at 3:00 PM.

Women's Soccer - Women's soccer hits the road for the first round of the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Tournament this Saturday, traveling to take on a Nazareth team that recently drew 0-0 with the Pioneers just a few weeks ago.

Last Week's Results:
@ SUNY Poly | Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 PM

• W, 7-0 (Hewson 2g 1a, Bell, Martin, Flockton, Kraft, Rochefort 1g)

Vs. Elmira | Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM

• W, 1-0 (Jalocha 1g, Ferguson 1a, Smith 1a)

@ Hamilton College | Sunday, October 25, 1:00 PM

• L, 5-0 (Weatherred 13 Svs)

 
Last Week's Action:
 

• Poly: The Pioneers dictated play throughout the afternoon, controlling possession, setting the pace, and consistently applying pressure in the attacking third. Their relentless energy and clinical finishing proved too much for SUNY Poly to handle, as Utica turned in one of its most complete performances of the 2026 campaign.
• Elmira: In a tightly contested matchup, the Pioneers battled through a scoreless deadlock for the majority of play, seeing quality chances turned away by the Elmira defense. A late goal from outside the box proved to be the difference, giving the Pioneers the lead with just over ten minutes to play. Utica held on for the win, concluding its final conference match with a significant victory and carrying momentum into postseason play.
• Hamilton: Women's soccer closed out the regular season on Saturday afternoon, falling to Hamilton, 5-0, in a hard-fought road contest. The Pioneers battled throughout the match but were unable to contain a dangerous Continental attack.

 
This Week's Schedule:
@ (#2) Nazareth -  Saturday, October 31st, at 11:00 AM | Golden Flyer Stadium
Empire 8 Tournament First Round
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers sit second in the conference with nine clean sheets and hold the third-best conference defensive record with 10 goals allowed.
• The Pioneers rank in the top-3 for shots on goal, shots, and shots on goal per game
• Utica has the highest points in a single game this season with 23 vs. Canton (9/5/2026)

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Nazareth 

• Record: 10-3-2 (8-2-1)
• Recent Matches: D, 0-0 vs Utica, W, 4-0 vs Keuka, W, 8-0 vs Poly
• Stat Leaders: Freshman Savanna Biehler leads the team with 30 points (12g 6a), followed by Giuliana Rodriguez with 14 points (6g 2a), and Carolina Lott-Diamond with 13 points (5g 3a).
• What to Watch For: After a scoreless draw between the two sides earlier in the season, the Pioneers now travel to Golden Flyer Stadium for the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament. With everything on the line in a win-or-go-home matchup, both teams will be locked in for what promises to be an action-packed battle.

 
Up Next: With a win on Saturday, the Pioneers would face the winner of (#3) Houghton vs (#6) Hartwick on Wednesday, November 4 in the tournament semifinal. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th, at the highest remaining seed, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Men's Soccer - Men's soccer opens the Empire 8 Tournament this Saturday as the #2 seed, hosting #7 Hartwick College at 6:00 pm at Casamento Field. The Pioneers finished the regular season at 9-6-2 overall and 7-3-1 in conference play, securing home field for the opening round and a potential semifinal. Utica defeated Hartwick 2-0 in September, but the Hawks enter the postseason riding a three-game winning streak.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs SUNY Poly | Wednesday, October 21st

• W, 2-1 (Cookinham - 2g; Loselose - 1a; Accetta - 6 saves)

At Elmira College | Saturday, October 24th

• L, 0-2 (Nkurunziza - 5 shots, 2 on target; Accetta - 3 saves)

 
Last Week's Action:

• SUNY Poly: Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) scored twice in 37 seconds early in the second half to lead Utica to a 2-1 Crosstown Showdown victory and secure a home postseason game. Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) assisted the opening goal before Cookinham finished a rebound off a Loselose shot for his second brace of the season. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) made six saves, while the Pioneer defense blocked 12 shots to withstand Poly's 29-11 advantage in attempts. The win extended Utica's unbeaten streak to seven matches.
• Elmira: Two first-half goals carried the Soaring Eagles to a 2-0 victory, ending Utica's unbeaten run in the regular-season finale. Adam Tufton opened the scoring at 20:24 before Jose Corporan, who assisted the first goal, added another at 40:15. The Pioneers outshot their hosts 14-11 and matched Elmira with five shots on target. Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) led Utica with five attempts, including two on goal, while Accetta recorded three saves.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs (#7) Hartwick College - Saturday, October 31st, 6:00 PM | Laura M. Casamento Field
Empire 8 Tournament First Round

Trax Fax:

• Utica enters the postseason with four consecutive home victories, outscoring opponents 9-3 during that stretch. The Pioneers finished the regular season 6-2-1 at Casamento Field, including a 5-1 mark against conference opponents.
• The Pioneers went 6-0-1 during their seven-game unbeaten run before Saturday's loss, outscoring opponents 12-4. Every match in that stretch came against an Empire 8 opponent.
• Loselose leads Utica with six goals and 14 points, including three game-winning goals and a perfect 3-for-3 mark on penalty kicks. Cookinham follows with four goals and 10 points, with all four scores coming in braces against Brockport and Poly.
• Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) and Nkurunziza share the team lead with three assists apiece. Eleven different Pioneers have scored this season, with 14 of the team's 20 goals coming after halftime.
• Accetta completed the regular season with 78 saves and six shutouts across 1,215:00 in goal. He recorded six saves in September's shutout victory over Hartwick. The senior enters the postseason with a .907 save percentage and a 0.59 GAA.
• Utica trails the all-time Hartwick series 5-11 but has won five of the last eight meetings, including consecutive shutout victories in 2025 and 2026. The Pioneers have also won four of the last five meetings played in Utica.

Upcoming Opponents:
(#7) Hartwick College

• Record: 6-10 overall, 5-6 Empire 8 | #7 seed
• Recent Matches: Hartwick closed the regular season with three consecutive victories, defeating Brockport 3-1, Russell Sage 2-1 and Keuka 1-0. The win at Keuka was the Hawks' first road victory of the season.
• Stat Leaders: Wilson Mount leads Hartwick with seven goals, 16 points and 49 shots, including 24 on target. Devin Chandler follows with three goals and a team-high six assists, while Muhammad Troare and Jon Smith have each scored three times. Nils Ole Petersen has handled the most time in goal, recording 40 saves and a 1.59 goals-against average across 847:54. Jelani Usim has added 21 saves, a 1.09 GAA and two shutouts in 412:06.
• Previous Meeting: Utica defeated Hartwick 2-0 at Casamento Field on September 23rd. Jackson Petzoldt (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) scored his first collegiate goal at 31:22, assisted by Cookinham and Arias. Arias added a goal at 54:44, with assists from Nkurunziza and Adelin Buljubasic (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor). Despite Hartwick's 20-18 shot advantage, Utica led 9-7 in shots on target.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick has outshot opponents 238-171 and earned a 91-42 advantage in corner kicks this season, presenting another test for the Pioneer defense. Saturday also revisits a 2023 E8 First Round matchup, when #5 Utica lost 2-0 at #4 Hartwick. This time, the Pioneers hold home field against a Hawks squad looking to extend its late-season surge.

 
Up Next: With a win Saturday, Utica would host the winner of #3 Nazareth and #6 Alfred in an Empire 8 semifinal on Wednesday, November 4th. The Pioneers defeated Nazareth 1-0 on the road during the regular season but lost 1-0 at home to Alfred. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th, at the highest remaining seed, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Volleyball - Volleyball returns to Miga Court this week to host Nazareth University and St. John Fisher University after dropping road matches to SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport. The Pioneers enter the week sixth in the Empire 8 standings with a 5-4 conference record and a 9-16 overall mark
.
Last Week's Results
At SUNY Geneseo | Friday, October 23rd
L, 3-0 (Bailey - 10k, Wright - 25d, Herrington - 11a)
At SUNY Brockport | Saturday, October 24th
L, 3-0 (Bailey - 7k, Wright - 14d, Jones - 8a)

Last Week's Action:

SUNY Geneseo: Utica opened Friday's match with a 5-1 lead and battled the Knights through a 22-22 tie before Geneseo captured the final three points to take the opening set, 25-22. In the second, Emylie Stanton (Latham, NY/Shaker) delivered three consecutive service aces to cut an 18-11 deficit to 18-15, but the Knights pulled away for a 25-17 victory. Geneseo secured the sweep with a 25-12 third-set win. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led Utica with 10 kills, while Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) recorded a match-high 25 digs. Charley Herrington (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) dished out 11 assists, Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) added eight assists and 10 digs, and Stanton finished with four aces.

SUNY Brockport: The Pioneers fell to Brockport in three sets on Saturday, 25-14, 25-12, 25-14. Utica cut a first-set deficit to 15-10 before the Golden Eagles used seven consecutive points to regain control. In the second, consecutive kills from Arianna Williams (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) helped bring Utica within three at 12-9, but Brockport pulled away down the stretch. The Pioneers remained within two at 10-8 in the third before the hosts created separation to complete the sweep. Bailey finished with seven kills and six digs, Williams added four kills, and Wright collected 14 digs. Jones led the team with eight assists.

This Week's Schedule
Vs Nazareth University - Friday, October 30th, 7:00 PM | Miga Court, Clark Athletic Center
Vs St. John Fisher University - Saturday, October 31st, 12:00 PM | Miga Court, Clark Athletic Center

Trax Fax

• Megan Wright (Clay Center, KS/Clay Center Community) continues to lead the Empire 8 in both total digs and digs per set, recording 526 digs and averaging 6.12 per set. She collected 39 digs across six sets last weekend, averaging 6.50 per set. In the national rankings dated October 23, Wright ranked third in Division III in digs per set and fourth in total digs.
• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) remains one of the conference's top offensive threats, ranking second in the Empire 8 in kills per set at 3.43 and fourth in points per set at 3.89. She has totaled 278 kills and 315 points while hitting .205. Bailey has been even more productive against conference opponents, averaging 3.97 kills per set to rank second in Empire 8 matches. Bailey is closing in on 300 kills for the season, entering the week just 22 away with 278. She has accounted for nearly one-third of Utica's 863 kills and leads the team with 315 points
• Utica leads the Empire 8 in total digs with 1,505 and digs per set at 17.30. Wright anchors that effort, while Bailey has contributed 214 digs. Jones and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) have added 129 and 123 digs, respectively, giving the Pioneers four players with more than 120 digs this season.
• The Pioneers have recorded 173 service aces, the seventh-highest total in the conference. Jones leads Utica with 31, followed by Bailey and Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) with 29 apiece. Ancewicz has contributed 26 and Wright has added 25, giving Utica five players with at least 25 aces entering this week's home matches.

Upcoming Opponents:
Nazareth University

• Record: 5-16 overall, 3-6 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: Nazareth rebounded from a three-set loss to St. John Fisher on October 21 with consecutive conference victories, defeating Keuka in four sets on Friday before sweeping Elmira on Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: Leah Fusilli leads the Golden Flyers with 250 kills and 3.33 kills per set. Hailey Trank has recorded a team-high 341 assists and 31 service aces, while Gretchen Klossner leads the defense with 227 digs. Alana Lucey has contributed 151 kills and a team-best 68 blocks.
• What to Watch For: Nazareth's blocking has been a factor in its recent conference wins. The Golden Flyers recorded 19 blocks in a five-set victory over Brockport on October 16, then totaled 10 against Keuka and 11 against Elmira last weekend. Utica will look to work around that front-row defense while limiting Fusilli's opportunities on the outside.

St. John Fisher University

• Record: 19-6 overall, 9-0 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: The Cardinals enter the week on a 12-match winning streak after sweeping Nazareth, Elmira and Keuka last week. Fisher has won its last three matches without dropping a set.
• Stat Leaders: Kaylene Noble leads Fisher with 286 kills and 247 digs, while Lydia Fraser has contributed 251 kills and a team-high 70 service aces. Zofia Keogh directs the offense with 801 assists and 9.42 assists per set. Ana Gutman has recorded 166 kills on a .358 hitting percentage and leads the team with 59 blocks.
• What to Watch For: Fisher has combined efficient offense with strong serving throughout conference play, hitting .243 and averaging 3.06 aces per set against Empire 8 opponents. Fraser has recorded 37 aces in 27 conference sets. Utica's serve reception and ability to extend rallies will be key against a Cardinals team that has held conference opponents to a .071 hitting percentage.

Up Next: The team hits the road of one final non-conference matchup against the University of Rochester. Game time on Thursday, November 5 is set for 7pm from Rochester, NY.
 
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