UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's hockey team will host the Manhattanville College Valiants in the UCHC Semifinals on Saturday, February 25 at the Nexus Center with the time to be determined. The matchup will be a repeat of last year's Semifinals in which the Valiants were able to upset the Pioneers.
 
Follow Along: Fans unable to attend can keep up with live video and/or stats at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: The team defeated Lebanon Valley College 4-0 in the UCHC Quarterfinals on Wednesday afternoon. Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) led the way with two goals including a short-handed one. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) each scored in the win as well while Sloan, Stefanini, Rylott, and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) led the team with two points each. Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) recorded two assists while Sloan, Stefanini and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) all assisted at least one goal. In goal for Utica, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) recorded 13 saves while securing her sixth shutout and 15th win of the season. The Pioneer defense played terrific and clogged many passing lanes and was able to break up scoring opportunities. The first period featured plenty of action as the teams were seen battling back and forth fighting to gain control of the puck in the attacking zone. The game did not have its first stoppage until over nine minutes in. Utica outshot Lebanon Valley 14-6 in the period with Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) leading the way with three shots a piece. Utica would go on to break through first in the opening period. A takeaway at center ice opened up room for a beautiful give and go breakaway between Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel). Sloan dished the puck to Santullo who took it all the way near the crease before Santullo went back to a crashing Sloan who capitalized for a 1-0 lead at 18:09. Santullo and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) assisted the goal and the Pioneers took a 1-0 edge into the second intermission. The Pioneers tacked on two more goals in the second period. 50 seconds into the period, Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) scored a shorthanded goal after rebounding a Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) shot. Then at 9:27, Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) found an opening from the wing off of a Sloan pass to push the game to 3-0. Utica dominated in shots and controlled the puck in the attacking zone for the majority of the third period. The Pioneers had plenty of opportunities to score and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) found the back of the net again at the 15:28 mark for her second goal of the game. The goal was Carolyn Whitney's (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) second assist of the game and Utica held on for a 4-0 win.
 
Playoff Streaks: Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) has a five-game point streak and has recorded a point in all of her career playoff games except for one. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) has a three-game playoff point streak and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) has accumulated one point or more in four of her five career playoff games. Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) shows up for big time games with three goals in her last two playoff games. Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) has one goal and three assists in her last three playoff outings and her tremendous playmaking has been crucial to the team's offense.
 
About Manhattanville: The Valiants were 15-10-1 this season and 14-5-1 in conference play which earned them the three seed in the UCHC Tournament. The team came back from a 2-0 deficit after two periods to beat the six seed Arcadia University 3-2 in overtime. Manhattanville is led by the UCHC's top goaltender Gabrielle Cox who has an incredible 31 goals which is eight more than anyone else in the conference. Morgan Miller is another top playmaker on the team with 11 goals and a team-leading 15 assists. Aside from these two, the team is very balanced with nine players with five or more assists and seven players with five or more goals. Franny Gerardi is the team's top goalie sporting a 10-10-1 record with six shutouts, 573 saves, and a .941 save percentage.
 
Head-to-Head: The series is a nailbiter with the Valiants squeaking out a 10-9-1 all-time record. Yet the Pioneers swept the season series with a 4-0 win on January 20 and a 3-1 win on January 21. Utica has seen recent success going 5-2 against the Valiants since the start of the 2020-2021 season. This game will feature a rematch of the 2021-22 UCHC Semifinals as well. 

Up Next: The winner will advance to the UCHC Championship game which will be hosted by the highest seed on Saturday, March 4 with the time to be determined.