Utica, NY (1/8/15)- The Utica College women’s hockey team faces a tough test Friday as it travels to Northfield, VT to take on nationally Ranked No. 3 Norwich University in non-conference action. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: UC is coming off a 3-1 win over SUNY Canton on Tuesday… Senior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School), sophomore Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers), and freshman Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) each found the back of the net… Coope and Osowski also added one assist apiece, while Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) had two helpers and Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning) and Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) each registered one assist… Sophomore Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 15 saves in net.
STRONG START: The Pioneers are currently 5-2-2 on the season … UC’s only losses came to nationally ranked No. 2 Elmira College on Nov. 22 and 23… Since then, Utica has been undefeated in its last five games, going 3-0-2.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: This season, Utica will play all four of the top-ranked teams in the latest USCHO.com national poll… The Pioneers face No. 1 Plattsburgh in ECAC West action on Feb. 14 and 15… UC lost to No. 2 Elmira 4-1 and 7-5 earlier this season… Following Friday’s game against No. 3 Norwich, Utica will host No. 4 Middlebury on Tuesday (5 p.m.).
LEADING THE WAY: Junior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) leads the team with nine goals and 15 points… She ranks eighth in the country with 1.67 points per game and her 1.00 goals per game are tied for fourth nationally… Reed is in the midst of a six-game scoring streak in which she has tallied 13 points… She is the active leader with 56 career points.
FROM THE FIELD TO THE ICE: Seniors Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) and Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning), who played prominent roles on the Empire 8 Champion UC field hockey team, have made their presence felt on the ice as well this season… Each has tallied six points in the last four games… Steele-Norton ranks second on the team with nine points (five goals, four assists), while Kieffer is tied for fourth nationally in scoring amongst defensemen with 1.00 points per game.
LIGHTING THE LAMP: Utica ranks 12th nationally in scoring offense with 3.33 goals per game… 11 different players have scored at least once this season… Sophomore Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) is third on the team with three goals and eight points… Three freshmen have scored their first career goals including Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects), Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine’s Chaos), and Jennifer Arts (Lakeside, Ontario/London Devilettes).
SCOUTING NORWICH: The Cadets are ranked No. 3 in both the USCHO.com and D3hockey.com national polls after holding an 8-1-1 record on the year… Norwich is unbeaten in its last nine games including wins over No. 9 Amherst and No. 10 Bowdoin… The Cadets have allowed just nine goals on the season and have racked up six shutouts… They are led by senior Kaycie Anderson and freshman Sarah Schwenzfeier, who each have four goals and nine assists on the year.
AGAINST THE CADETS: Utica is 1-2 all-time against Norwich… Last year, the Pioneers fell to the Cadets 4-2 in their only meeting… Nikki Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning) had a goal and Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) and Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) each had one assist on the day.
LOOKING AHEAD: Utica returns home Tuesday to host No. 4 Middlebury College… Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
