UTICA, NY - The No. 13 ranked Pioneer Women's Ice Hockey team saw their first game action on Friday afternoon against the London Devilettes, a Juniors team out of London, Ontario, Canada. The Pioneers took a little while to get their feet under them, seeing a few chances but not pushing any across and facing a 2-0 deficit heading to the decisive third period. In the final frame, the Pioneers came alive, scoring three goals including two within the last 7 minutes of regulation to come away with a clutch 3-2 victory in their pseudo season-opener.
 
With the Pioneers staring down a 2-goal gap, Graduate player Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) received a pass near the blue line from Sophomore Sydney Mintz (Kelowna, BC/Okanagan Hockey Academy) early on in the third period. Novotny then proceeded to fire a wrister from the back of the Pioneers' attacking zone, just getting the puck past the Devilettes goaltender to bring the Pioneers back to within one goal.
 
After cutting the deficit to 2-1, Utica looked to find an equalizer and began applying massive amounts of pressure with the idea of forcing a late London error. With time ticking down and seven minutes remaining in the matchup, the Pioneers found their leveling score, as Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsburg (Lady Flames)) corralled a rebound off of a hard slapshot from newcomer Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)), slipping the puck past the recovering London cageminder to knot the score at two apiece.
 
At this point, the Pioneers' momentum was evident, and they proved it by capitalizing just a few short minutes later.
 
New Utica player Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)) received the puck near the Pioneer goal from goalie Alex Venning (Courtice, ON/Ottawa Jr. 67s) and immediately hit the jets, going coast-to-coast and weaving through the Devilettes defense before slotting the puck in the upper left part of the goal, past the outstretched glove of the Devilettes goaltender to give Utica a shocking 3-2 lead.
 
Down 2-0 only 13 minutes before, the Pioneers salted away the clock for a 3-2 exhibition victory, gaining some great traction heading into their kickoff tournament that will take place next weekend.
 
Scoring Summary:
3rd Period: Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) (Sydney Mintz (Kelowna, BC/Okanagan Hockey Academy)) - 17:48 left - 2-1 London
3rd Period: Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsburg (Lady Flames)) - 6:50 left - 2-2
3rd Period: Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)) - 4:19 left - 3-2 Utica