UTICA, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team opens up ECAC West Conference play this weekend as it takes on William Smith College in a home-and-home series. The teams will meet in Utica on Saturday at 2 p.m. before traveling to William Smith on Sunday (4 p.m.) to cap off the weekend.
LAST TIME OUT: Utica is coming off a pair wins over SUNY Canton in its season-opener last weekend… The Pioneers won both games in convincing fashion, 4-1 and 6-3… 12 different players registered at least one point on the weekend… Junior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) and senior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) led the way for the Pioneers with six points each… Freshman Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) had four points on the weekend, while senior captain Janessa Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Canadian International Hockey Academy) totaled three points, including her first career goal.
ECAC WEST ACCOLADES: Junior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) and freshman Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) were named the ECAC West Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively… Schnepp had three points in each game and totaled three powerplay goals on the weekend… Patterson netted her first collegiate goal and added three assists in Utica’s sweep of Canton… She is currently tied for the national lead for points per game amongst rookies (2.00), and her 1.50 assists per game are tied for fifth nationally.
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Utica is ranked second nationally with 5.00 goals per game… 10 total goals is more than any team in the country so far… UC has also scored more powerplay goals than any other team and the Pioneers currently rank second in the country with a 54.5 powerplay percentage after converting on 6-of-11 opportunities with the man advantage.
STARTING STRONG: The Pioneers are off to a 2-0 start this season, which marks the second consecutive season they’ve started 2-0 or better, as they opened last season by winning their first three games… UC has now won its first two games in three of the last four seasons… Senior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) is tied for first in the country with 3.00 points and 2.00 assists per game.
IN THE NET: The Pioneer goalies were stellar in the first two games of the season, totaling 46 saves and two wins… Junior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) stopped 25 shots, allowing just one goal in the 4-1 win… She is tied for 12th nationally with a .962 save percentage. Sophomore Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneatles) turned aside 21 shots to pick up her first collegiate win in her first career start on Sunday.
SCOUTING WILLIAM SMITH: The Herons won their first two games of the season against UMASS-Boston, both by the score of 4-2… Leading the way for William Smith is Rebecca Begley, who has a team-high four points (two goals, two assists)… Dori Craig and Krista Federow were also key in the Herons first two games… Craig has one goal, and is tied with Begley for the team lead with two assists, while Federow is tied with Begley for the team lead in goals.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend’s games against William Smith, the Pioneers will travel to Oswego State for a 3 p.m. game next Saturday, Nov. 14, before coming back home to face the Lakers on home ice next Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.
BROADCAST INFO: Select Utica College home games are broadcast over the air and online by Utica College’s student radio station, WPNR 90.7 FM… Make sure to catch live video, audio and stats on Pioneers All-Access: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Make sure to follow live updates of all the action on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers … If you are at the games and on Twitter, or talking about the games on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also “Like” the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers … Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.
