UTICA, NY - The No. 11 Utica University women's hockey team gears up for a two-game set against Chatham University on Friday, November 8 at 3 p.m. and Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Both Friday and Saturday's games can be watched here. Live stats are available here.
 
Last Time Out: The No. 13 Utica University Women's Hockey team won 3-2 in an overtime thriller against the No. 5 Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Saturday evening, capturing the championship trophy in their annual Utica University Kickoff Tournament. Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) scored the game-winner only 38 seconds into overtime. Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsburg (Lady Flames)) and Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) also notched one goal apiece. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Kendall Best (Troy, MI/Troy (Belle Tire)), Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, Fl/Florida Alliance), Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)), Madison Richman (Scituate, MA/North Shore Vipers) and Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) tallied one assist each. Modlin led Utica with seven shots and ten faceoff wins, followed by Riley Calhoun (New Hartford, NY/Plattsburgh State University (NCAA DIII)) with five shots and eight faceoff victories. Angelina Hawthorne started in goal for Utica and was very sharp despite being less than 24 hours removed from a stunning shutout that clinched the championship appearance for the Pioneers. She was locked in all night, making 33 saves. Hawthorne registered 15 in the first period, six in the second and 12 in the third. Elmira and Utica combined for 23 shots in the first period, 15 for the Soaring Eagles and eight for the Pioneers. No goals were scored in the period, resulting in a 0-0 score entering the second period. Hawthorne made five saves within the first three minutes of action, keeping the Elmira offense at bay. Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) scored the first goal for Utica with just under six minutes to play in the second period. Pedone made a beautiful play off an Elmira turnover in the Pioneer offensive zone, driving down towards net and finding a microscopic scoring window at the near post to give Utica a 1-0 lead. With two minutes remaining in the period, Ryder scored, extending the Pioneer lead to 2-0 heading into the final period. Ryder made great plays all night and had quality backchecks to retain the puck for Utica. The Soaring Eagles answered back with two tallies in the third period, inching closer and tying the game at two. Elmira and Utica would go to overtime to decide the winner of the Utica Kickoff Tournament. However, Utica wasted no time during the bonus hockey, scoring 38 seconds in on Novotny's goal to clinch the tournament victory.
 
Weekly Players of the Week: Hawthorne and Kowalski received UCHC Goalie of the Week and Player of the Week after their stellar performance against Suffolk and No. 5 Elmira in the Utica Kickoff Tournament. Hawthorne is one of three goalies nationally to start the season 2-0 and is top 20 with a .967 save percentage. In the first two games of the season, she has a total of 58 saves. In their first game against Suffolk, she had a shutout, not allowing a goal on 25 saves. In their second game against Elmira, she only allowed two goals with a total of 33 saves. Kowalski was awarded the UCHC Player of the Week after netting one goal in the Pioneers game against Suffolk and the game-winning assist against No.5 Elmira.
 
Blue Line Play: The Pioneers defense did not allow a goal this weekend against the Soaring Eagles until the 3rd period. All three goals allowed against Utica in the two games came on power play opportunities; none were full strength. Novotny did an excellent job of getting the puck into the offensive zone on her entries and creating plays for the Pioneers. Novotny led defenders with four shots and had one block against No.5 Elmira. The pair of Mish and Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/Belle Tire) leads the Pioneers with a +2 rating in two games, both making great plays on the blue line.
 
Heatin' Up: Ryder, Stefanini and Modlin have been Utica's top line thus far, combining for two goals, one assist and 30 shots. Modlin leads the team with 11 shots and 21 face-off wins. Ryder has been off to a hot start creating quality offense along with taking the puck away and getting down the ice quick in the offensive zone. Stefanini has used her veteran presence on the ice to settle the puck as she collected a +2 rating, the only forward to have a plus-two rating on Utica.
 
About Chatham: The Cougars completed last season 10-11-3 overall and 8-10-2 in UCHC play. Chatham fell to Utica in the UCHC Quarterfinal matchup last season (5-0). Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)), now on the Pioneers, led Chatham with 29 points and 20 assists. In two games against Utica last season, Nolan recorded two assists in three games played. The team is without its top five scorers from a year ago. This season, Chatham is 0-1-1 overall, with a regulation win against Albertus Magnus (2-1) and a shootout win against Albertus as well. Morgan Black and Lily Schmear lead the Cougars with one goal and one assist each, while Rainey Jessup has two assists. Samantha Brophy returns in goal this season after sporting a 3-3-1 record and a .919 save percentage last season. Utica is 35-0-1 against Chatham all-time, dating back to 2002.
 
Up Next: Utica hosts a two-game set on Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m. The team will recognize its seniors on Friday; both games are against Chatham University.