UTICA, NY - The No. 9 University women's hockey team is set to host the Neumann University Knights on Friday, December 1 at 5 p.m. before taking on the Knights again on Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. on senior day. 
 
Follow Along: Live video and stats for both weekend games will be available through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: The team celebrated its Gold Ribbon Game with a 4-1 win over the visiting Worcester State University Lancers on November 21. The Pioneers saw efforts from four different goal scorers as Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) and Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) each notched one. Sheaffer and Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) led the team with two points each, Sheaffer adding an assist to her line and Staniszewski recording a pair. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) all had an assist each. In goal, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 21 saves on 22 Lancer shots to earn her seventh win of the year. Utica controlled shots all not, ending the game with a 52-22 edge. The team also handled faceoffs going 37-for-55 as a unit led by Jordan Kowalski's (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) 14 wins. Utica started the first period firing as the team recorded three shots in the first four minutes of action. Early in the period, Worcester State forward Layna Pereiro received a two minute penalty for hooking, sending Utica's power play unit on the ice - a unit in which has recorded 11 goals on the season. The Pioneers registered five shots on the power play, but Worcester State goaltender, Kelsey Czerniawski, saved each of them as she stood on her head for the first 5:25 of regulation. With 6:52 into the period, Utica struck first as Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) and Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) assisted Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans) to put the Pioneers up 1-0. This was Ryder's first goal of the 2023-24 season and her third career goal. Three minutes later the Lancers responded as Carolne Gates assisted Sydney Vautour to even the game at one goal a piece. No more goals were scored in the period as Utica and Worcester would go into the second tied 1-1. Both teams combined for 26 shots in the first period, Utica was responsible for 19 and Worcester had five. Czerniawski gobbled up 18 saves, while Utica's Hawthorne ate up four. The Pioneers dominated at the faceoff dot winning 16 out of 18. The second period was closely contested as the teams combined for 29 shots. The Lancers let off 13 shots while Utica had 16. 6:43 into the period, Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Staniszewski dished a pass to Sheaffer as she capitalized to extend Utica's lead 2-1. Like Ryder, it served as Sheaffer's first goal of the season as she extended her career goal total to eight. Soon after, Worcester would let off four shots in a row, but Hawthorne was there to deny them all. Both teams went shot-for-shot the rest of the period, but none found the back of the net sending the teams into the third with Utica up 2-1. Utica kept its foot on the gas firing three shots in three minutes. Just 3:38 into the third period Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) recorded her second point of the season as she assisted Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's), who scored to give Utica a 3-1 lead. Late in the third, Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) extended Utica's lead with a shorthanded goal assisted by Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), keeping her point streak alive by extending it to four consecutive games. Whitney's goal was the icing on the cake, sending Utica home with a 4-1 victory. 
 
In the Polls: Utica moved up one spot to No. 9 in this week's US College Hockey Online Women's Top 15. The poll was released Monday by the national college hockey website. The Pioneers received 128 points this week to move up within the top-10. In its lone game last week, Utica topped visiting Worcester State University, 4-1, in its Gold Ribbon Game. The entire Division III women's poll can be found at https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-iii-womens-poll/. 
 
Highlight Week: Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) was named the UCHC Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. Sheaffer and the Pioneers defeated Worcester State 4-1 on Tuesday evening behind Sheaffer's one goal and one assist on four shots. Along with her two points, the graduate student was also successful on 77 percent of her faceoff attempts, going 7-for-9 overall. 
 
Farewell Tour: Prior to Saturday's game against Neumann, the Pioneers will honor seniors Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Nicole Flak (Middleton, MA/Boston Shamrocks), Nicole Fitzgerald (Mechanicsburg, PA/The Hill School), Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles), Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School), Hannah Keating (North Andover, MA/HPNA), Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's), Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer), Maddie Esposito (Ashburn, VA/Boston Shamrocks), Alexa Carlon (Lancaster, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles), Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)), Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School). 
 
Chasing History: Both Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) are close to breaking Utica women's hockey records and have been outstanding this season. Hawthorne is Utica's all-time leader in shutouts with 14 and she is just two career wins away from passing 2016 graduate Keira Goin, who recorded 40 wins. Sloan is also creeping up in the program's career records as she has 63 career goals and is 12 shy of passing Deana Wiegand, who was responsible for 74 career goals. She also has 70 career assists, which is 10 shy of tying Stephanie Price, who had 80. As for total career points, Sloan finds herself 38 away from that record as well as she's fifth all-time in program history with 133. 
 
Helping Hand: The Pioneers currently sit atop of the UCHC and are fourth in NCAA Division III with 56 assists this season, averaging an incredible 6.22 per game. Utica has been creating plenty of scoring opportunities this season and has been moving the puck into the attacking zone with ease. Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) leads the team with seven assists while Modlin, Sloan, Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) have all eclipsed at least five assists this season.
 
Strength in Numbers: Utica has been phenomenal on the penalty kill with a remarkable .966 penalty kill percentage which ranks 16th in NCAA Division III. The Pioneers have allowed just one opponent power play goal on 29 attempts so far this year. On the flip side, Utica has made the most of its time when down a player as the team ranks second in the nation with four shorthanded goals. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) have been responsible for all four of said goals, tallying two each, while their two shorties are tied with three other plays for the most in DIII. 
 
Breakout: Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) has been on a historic pace this season with 15 points, the second most she has tallied in a season in her four-year career. The senior has 15 points thus far and is on pace for over 40 points this season which would shatter her career-high of 23 which she set last season.
 
About Neumann: The Knights are 4-4-1 and sport a 0-3-1 UCHC record thus far. The team tied Alvernia University 3-3 before going on to a 2-0 win in the shootout in its last match on Saturday, November 18. The duo of Jamiyah Alexander and Lian Sydorowicz lead the offense each amassing eight points with at least five goals. Georgia Wunder and Jasmine Martinez are two nifty playmakers with each recording at least five assists this season and are constantly setting up the offense with ease. Michelle Winand-Bacon is the team's top goaltender with a 2-3-1 record, 226 saves, a .934 save percentage and just 16 goals allowed this season.
 
Series History: Utica has dominated the all-time series boasting an impressive 29-8-1 record including nine straight victories, eight of which being by multiple goals. The Pioneers won all four matchups last season including three double-digit goal performances. 
 
Up Next: The team will travel to face No. 6 Hamilton College on Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m.