UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's soccer team is set to begin its postseason campaign on Saturday, October 31. The seventh-seeded Pioneers will travel to Rochester to take on the second-seeded Nazareth University Golden Flyers in the opening round of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. Kickoff from Golden Flyer Stadium is scheduled for 11:00 AM.

Ticketing Information: Admission for Saturday's match will be cash only at the door. $10 - Adults; $5 - Seniors; $2 - Students with ID (from competing institution); Free - Children under 12.

Follow Along: Live video for Saturday's match can be found here, and live stats here.

Road to the Postseason: The Pioneers clinched a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on Wednesday, October 21, with a crucial victory over SUNY Poly, initially securing the No. 8 seed. They then improved their position with a 1-0 win over Elmira on October 24, moving up to the No. 7 seed and earning a first-round matchup against No. 2 Nazareth.

Utica has proved itself to be a strong defensive side this season, conceding ten goals in conference play, one of the lowest marks in the conference, with six conference clean sheets. The Pioneers have shown its ability to compete with some of the conference's top offenses this season, holding Fisher to a one-goal match and battling Nazareth to a scoreless draw earlier in the year. Goalkeeper Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) has been a cornerstone of that success, recording seven total shutouts and 58 saves, both of which rank third in the Empire 8. With Duro between the posts, along with a backline captained by three-time all-conference defender Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), the Pioneers have limited opponents to just 0.91 goals per conference game, providing a strong defensive foundation heading into postseason play.

The Utica attack has averaged 1.611 goals per game, which ranks seventh in the conference, but ranks fourth in shots on goal with 153. The ability to generate chances has been a key strength throughout the season, and if the Pioneers can convert those opportunities in front of goal, their offense has the potential to be a dynamic factor determining the team's postseason success.

The Stage is Set: The final tournament seeding and tournament schedule are as follows.
Seeding: 
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (30 points, 10-1-0 E8, 14-2-0 Overall)
No. 2 – Nazareth University (25 points, 8-2-1 E8, 10-3-2 Overall)
No. 3 – Houghton University (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 10-5-2 Overall)
No. 4 – SUNY Geneseo (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 9-4-3 Overall)
No. 5 – SUNY Brockport (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 11-3-3 Overall)
No. 6 – Hartwick College (17 points, 5-4-2 E8, 5-7-4 Overall)
No. 7 – Utica University (14 points, 3-3-5 E8, 6-5-6 Overall)
No. 8 – Elmira College (13 points, 4-6-1 E8, 4-11-1 Overall)

Schedule:
Saturday, October 31 - First Round
No. 8 Elmira College at No. 1 St. John Fisher University – 6 PM
No. 7 Utica University at No. 2 Nazareth University – 11 AM
No. 6 Hartwick College at No. 3 Houghton University – 1 PM
No. 5 SUNY Brockport at No. 4 SUNY Geneseo – 3 PM

Wednesday, November 4 - Semifinals
Winner of Fisher/Elmira vs. Winner of Geneseo/ Brockport - TBA
Winner of Nazareth/Utica vs. Winner of Houghton/Hartwick - TBA
Saturday, November 7 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal No. 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal No. 2 - TBA

Meet the Golden Flyers: Nazareth enters the postseason 10-3-2 overall and 8-2 in Empire 8 play, earning the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. The Golden Flyers have been one of the league's most balanced teams, boasting the Empire 8's top ranked defense with just 10 goals allowed while also fielding the conference's second highest scoring offense with 39 goals in 15 matches. Their combination of defensive stability and attacking firepower has made them one of the conference's most formidable teams heading into postseason play. An impenetrable Golden Flyers backline has held opponents to 44 shots on goal this season, leading the conference with the lowest goals against per game at 0.70. Nazareth is led by forward Savanna Biehler, who has enjoyed a standout freshman campaign with 12 goals and 6 assists, ranking third in the Empire 8 in both categories. Biehler also recorded the conference's highest single-game point total of the season, tallying 9 points on 4 goals and 1 assist in a 5-0 victory over Russell Sage. Nazareth has also received significant offensive contributions from Giuliana Rodriguez and Carolina Lott-Diamond, who have recorded six and five goals, respectively. The Golden Flyers prefer a possession-based style of play, patiently moving the ball around opposing defenses in search of scoring opportunities. However, Utica has performed well against possession-oriented teams this season, forcing opponents into difficult situations in the attacking third before capitalizing on counterattacks. The clash in styles could prove to be a key factor in Saturday's matchup, as Nazareth looks to control the tempo while the Pioneers seek to disrupt possession and spring forward in transition.

The Pioneers earned a point at home against Nazareth earlier this season, battling the Golden Flyers to a scoreless draw and snapping a four-match losing streak in the series. While Utica holds a 1-30-4 record against Nazareth, the Pioneers will look to rewrite the script when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon. Utica's lone victory in the series came on the road in 2006, when the Pioneers secured a 2-0 win over the Golden Flyers.

Up Next: A victory on Saturday would send the Pioneers to the Empire 8 Tournament semifinals, where they would take on the winner of the Houghton/Hartwick matchup on Wednesday, November 4. Kickoff time is yet to be determined.