UTICA, NY - The No. 8 Utica University women's hockey team gears up for a pair of UCHC matchups against the Wilkes University Colonels at the Utica University Nexus Center this weekend. Friday's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday. 
 
Follow Along: Those who can't attend Friday and Saturday's game can watch and follow live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: Then-No. 9 Utica completed the two-game sweep against the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen with a 4-1 win last Saturday evening. Utica capitalized on four out of six power-play opportunities which ultimately set the game apart.  For the Pioneers, four different goal-scorers capitalized in the game as Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel), Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School), Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) and Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) each found the back of the net. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) followed up her two-goal outing on Friday with a pair of assists while Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) and Sloan each had helpers. In all, 17 different players for Utica recorded at least one shot on net.  Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) had a phenomenal game between the pipes, stopping 17 shots, sporting a .944 save percentage. Lebanon Valley's Frisoni, registered 50 saves. The Pioneers controlled 36 of 64 faceoffs led by Modlin taking nine of her 16, Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) winning eight and Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, Fl/Florida Alliance) controlling six. Both teams fired off a combined 30 shots and 19 shots on goal in the first period. Utica was responsible for 11 shots on goal while nine players recorded at least one. Lebanon Valley registered eight shots on goal with five different players recording at least one. Utica's Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) and Lebanon Valley's Mia Frisoni shut down the front of their respective nets going into the second period 0-0. Utica and Lebanon Valley each found the back of the net one time in the second period. Lebanon Valley struck first as Maeghan Howson and Cheyenne Wilk assisted Alexa Spiers to give the Dutchmen a 1-0 lead early in the period. With under a minute to go in the period, the Pioneers scored its lone goal. On a power play, Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) and Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) assisted Erica Sloan's (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) goal to get Utica on the board and even the game 1-1 entering the final 20 minutes. The third period consisted of Utica putting an immense amount of pressure on Lebanon Valley, out shooting the Dutchmen 29-5, in the shots on goal department. All three of Utica's goals in the period were on a power-play. 1:45 into the third period, defenseman Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) opened the scoring with an assist from Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead. Soon later, both Sloan and Modlin recorded another point as they assisted Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) to give Utica a 3-1 advantage. Courtney Staniszewski found Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) to put the icing on the cake as Utica went up 4-1 and never looked back.     
 
In the Polls: The team moved up one spot to No. 8 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 160 points to move up to No. 8. The team had a pair of wins this weekend against Lebanon Valley College. On Friday, the Pioneers defeated the Flying Dutchmen 2-1, and again on Saturday 4-1. The entire Division III women's poll can be found at https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-iii-womens-poll/. 
 
Gold Ribbon Auction: The No. 8 Utica University women's hockey team will welcome back its Gold Ribbon Game on Tuesday, November 21 at 7 p.m. against Worcester State University. The game will be the 9^th edition of the gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness. The Pioneers have dedicated one game each season to raising awareness for this important cause, one which hits close to home for the program. Utica will be wearing special edition uniforms that feature a gold ribbon, the color of childhood cancer awareness. These jerseys are currently being auctioned off online (HERE) as well as in the arena during the game on November 21.  All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Hope in Action Foundation, which is a local non-profit that assists families during all stages of their child's battle with cancer.  In the history of the gold ribbon game, the Pioneers have raised over $30,000 for local families dealing with childhood cancer.
*Minimum Bid - $100
*Buy it Now Price - $300
*Bidding Will Conclude After the 2nd Period of the Worcester State-Utica Game on Nov. 21
*Bids Must be Made in Increments of $5 
 
We Have the Power: The Pioneers have found success early on in the season on power play opportunities. Across Division III, Utica ranks tied for first in the nation, along with UCHC rival Arcadia University, in power play goals with nine, along with ranking third in power play percentage (.474). Nine of the team's 14 goals scored so far have come directly from a power play where they are 9-19 overall and as a team. Senior Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) finds herself atop of the UCHC in power play goals where all four of her scores have come on the advantage thus far. On the opposite end, the Pioneers have been flawless on the penalty kill so far this season. Second in the UCHC, while on the penalty kill the Pioneers have a success rate of 100 percent, not allowing a goal in any of their 15 penalty kills. Even on the penalty kill, the Pioneers have a razor-sharp offense with two short-handed goals from Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), a mark that ranks first in the UCHC. Friday's game against Lebanon Valley College saw the team stop three power plays while letting up just six shots. In the second matchup on Saturday, Utica shut down two power plays in the first period before stopping one in the third, allowing only three shots on net. 
 
Mod's Plan: Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) sparked the Utica attack over the team's two wins at Lebanon Valley this past weekend, earning her UCHC Co-Player of the Week honors. Modlin totaled four points over the pair of games with two goals and two assists. She also won 17 of her 30 faceoffs. On Friday, Modlin willed the Pioneers to a win as both of her goals made the difference in the 2-1 win. Her two goals came on just three shot attempts. On Saturday, Modlin assisted on Utica's game-tying goal in the 2nd period as well as the team's third goal in the 3rd. Modlin is currently joint top scorer for both the Pioneer's and in the UCHC. So far after four games, she has a total of seven points coming from four goals and three assists while her point total is tied of the UCHC lead. 
 
About Wilkes: Wilkes University is 2-2-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the UCHC entering this weekend's contests. The team defeated Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 6-0 and 6-1 on October 27 and 28 for its two wins this year. Last weekend against UCHC opponent Manhattanville College, Wilkes dropped two contests, 3-2 in overtime on the first day and 3-2 in regulation the following day. The =Colonels are led by graduate Abigail Barcless and senior Rachel Morey, both entering the weekend slate with six points which are top-10 marks in the league. Morey is currently tied second in assists in the UCHC with five on the season. Freshman Amanda Spreadbury provides support on the ice as she ranks fourth in the UCHC in power play goals with two and currently is tied for first in shots so far. In goal, Audrey Milne has started three of four games and sports a 1-2-0 mark. Over her three outings she's allowed six goals, three of which via power play, and has posted a .913 save percentage. 
 
The Series: The Pioneers are 10-0 all-time against the Colonels since the first trio of matchups in 2019. In games played in Utica, the Pioneers are 5-0 and have outscored Wilkes 34-5 in those games. This will be the first time the teams meet in the Utica University Nexus Center. 
 
Up Next: No. 8 Utica will travel to Manhattanville College for a weekend set on November 17 and 18.