UTICA, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team returns to the ice on Sunday for its 2016-2017 campaign. UC will take on the Toronto Midget Aeros, a junior team from Canada, in an exhibition contest. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
RECAP OF LAST SEASON: The Pioneers are coming off arguably their best season in program history as they finished with a 19-8-1 overall record and made it to the conference final for just the second time ever… Utica set new program records for wins and conference wins in a season (13) and it finished the year ranked tenth in both national polls.
LEADING THE OFFENSE: UC returns three of its four leading scorers from last season… Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) is back for her senior season as the active leader with 87 career points (36 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games played… She was a first team All-Conference and third team All-Region selection last year after netting career highs in points (43) and assists (29)… She finished sixth nationally with 1.54 points per game and her 1.04 assists per game were tied for second nationally… Sophomore Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) looks to build off her stellar freshman season that culminated in being named the ECAC West Conference Rookie of the Year… Patterson was the first freshman in five years and just the fourth player in program history to score more than 30 points in her rookie season… She was also just the second player in program history to be named the Conference’s Rookie of the Year, joining All-American Deana Weigand, who received the honor in 2003-04… Patterson finished the season with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points… Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) is back for her senior season looking to add to the offensive output… Coope had a career-high eight goals last year and added four helpers to finish fourth on the team with 12 points… Utica will rely on Schnepp, Patterson, and Coope to fill in after the departure of 2016 graduate and All-American Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy).
ON THE BLUE LINE: The Pioneers return five of six starters to anchor the defense this season… Junior Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake) finished last season tied for fourth on the team with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists), while Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) en route to earning All-Conference honorable mention in her first collegiate season… Senior Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy) and junior Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) will provide veteran leadership on the point, while Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall) will also be relied upon after she totaled one goal, seven assists, and a plus-17 rating in 28 games played as a freshman… Sophomore Kirsten Johnson (Brockville, Ontario/RSL Midget Thunder AA) will look to help fill the place of last year’s senior captain, Janessa Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Canadian International Hockey Academy).
IN THE NET: Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) is back between the pipes for her final season after she earned All-Conference honorable mention status last season… Goin compiled a .942 save percentage and 1.61 goals against average in 24 games last season… She stopped a career-high 55 shots, just one off the school record, in Utica’s 4-2 win over nationally ranked No. 1 Plattsburgh State on Feb. 13… She also set a new program record with seven shutouts one year ago… Junior Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneateles) will push for time in net after she totaled a .917 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average in five appearances last year.
NEWCOMERS: UC added three new faces to the team in freshmen Briah Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy), Kayla Rios (Dexter, NY/Northern Cyclones), and Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies)… Reilly and Rios will battle for playing time in the crease, while Hirschy looks to add offensive depth at the forward position.
SAVE THE DATE: UC will once again “Go Gold” as it hosts the 5th annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness… This year’s game will be Saturday, December 3 at 2 p.m. as UC faces off against local rival, Morrisville State… The Pioneers will be wearing special edition gold ribbon uniforms to show their support for all those fighting childhood cancer… The jerseys will then be auctioned off with all proceeds being donated to help ease the medical costs of a local family that is currently battling the disease… UC has now raised over $13,000 in the last four years for the cause.
LOOKING AHEAD: Utica officially opens its season on the road on Nov. 1 at Lebanon Valley… The Pioneers will return home on Sunday, Nov. 13 as they take on ECAC West foe, William Smith in their home-opener.
GET THE APP: Utica Athletics recently launched a fan rewards program to promote fan engagement for all 26 of UC’s intercollegiate sports… Powered by SuperFanU, the “Pioneer Pride Points” Fan Rewards app uses GPS tracking to recognize where fans are located at specified home games… Points can be earned by attending and “Checking In” to UC athletics games, participating in a variety of contests and interacting with social media platforms through the app… The App is available on all IPhone and Android devices by searching ‘Pioneer Pride Points’ in the Apple App Store or GooglePlay Market and is free to all Utica College students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and fans.
