MIDDLEBURY, VT - Just days after facing off against two top teams down in Florida, the #7 ranked Pioneers were faced with yet another big challenge as they traveled to Vermont for a meeting with #2 ranked Middlebury. Pitted against their third-straight ranked opponent in under a week's time, the Pioneers were once again up for the task, playing Division III's second ranked squad to a standstill as the contest entered crunch time tied at one apiece. It was the Panthers, however, who found a late winner with about 10 minutes remaining and salted away the clock to come away with a 2-1 win over a battle-tested Pioneer team.
 
Riley Calhoun (New Hartford, NY/Plattsburgh State University (NCAA DIII)) had the Pioneers' only score of the day, taking advantage of a power play opportunity to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead with her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
 
Autumn Mish (Long Lake, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) and Ally Nolan (Westford, MA/Chatham University (NCAA DIII)) each grabbed an assist on the Calhoun score to register the only other Pioneer points against a stonewall Panther defense.
 
Utica was outshot 32-17 by Middlebury, but once again employed an aggressive counter attacking style of hockey thanks to their stalwart savior in net, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer). The veteran goalkeeper finished with 30 saves on the day, and was integral in the Pioneers three successful penalties kills vs the Panthers. The Pioneers managed to go 50% on the advantage, picking up a single power play score in two tries, but keeping the Panthers off the board over six total minutes of advantage ice time by the Vermont side.
 
The Pioneers fared well in the battle between Division III's third ranked offense and top-rated defense. Utica had 59 goals entering the contest, while Middlebury had only allowed four all season up to that point. Something had to give, and it was the Pioneers who were felled by an unfortunate third period dagger.
 
Utica fell to 9-3, with all three of their losses coming to currently ranked opponents. They will look towards next week when they face another NESCAC foe, this time at home, in nearby Hamilton College. That game will begin at 7:00 PM next Tuesday.
 
Game Summary: The matchup, despite featuring strong defenses on both sides, began at a rapid pace, with end-to-end action encompassing the opening stages of the game. Both teams' intense fore-checking resulted in a plethora of line changes during the initial action.
 
Neither team managed to get off many attempts due to the pesky play of both defensive lines. Middlebury had the only two successful chances of the first 10 minutes, finding only the pads of Hawthorne during each try. Division III's second ranked squad also managed to capture five of the first six faceoffs, resulting in their pair of opportunities.
 
Utica had a good chance at the midway mark of the opening 20 minutes, with Kelsey Elliot and Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) combining for a few attempts at goal. The puck was knocked out of the air by the Panthers' goaltender before it could cause any impactful damage.
 
The first power play of the game was given to the visiting Pioneers, as Middlebury picked up a tripping call near their net.
 
Middlebury played well while shorthanded, driving into the Pioneers' defensive zone multiple times and allowing them to shift out defenders to keep their penalty kill unit fresh. 
 
Despite their aggressive play during the player-down time, the Panthers eventually succumbed to the Pioneer power play, with Mish threading the needle to set up Calhoun at the back post for a surefire score. Mish's pass drove through the center of the Panther defense, landing right at the stick of Calhoun who put it away for the 1-0 lead. The goal was only the fifth of the year given up by the Panther defense, and the first power play goal allowed by Middlebury this season.
 
The Panthers wouldn't stay down for long though, as they produced a chance in front of net that was put away after a beautiful centering pass. The Panther attacker was left unchallenged in front of net, winning the 1-on-1 battle against Hawthorne to knot the game at one apiece less than a minute after the Pioneers' opening score.
 
The Pioneers headed to their first penalty kill as the period came to a close, surviving just over a minute of the first Panther power play when the first period buzzer sounded. Utica would begin the second period with exactly 45 seconds of player-down ice time.
 
The second period began with the game still even at 1-1. Modlin managed to get off an attempt as the Panthers' penalty ran out, although she couldn't draw net on the breakaway. Despite the miss, the Pioneers managed to complete the penalty kill, returning to full strength and looking to become the first team this season to tally multiple goals against Middlebury.
 
Hawthorne stymied a few attempts from the Pioneers' NESCAC opposition, keeping Middlebury at bay while her offense tried to create an opening. Mish, who had the dish on the opening goal, had a couple good tries at goal, firing off two shots from the left side but seeing the score remain 1-1 as the midway point of the match steadily approached.
 
Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) and Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) had two big tries for the Pioneers with about eight minutes to play in the second period. Stefanini fired one in while on the rush, seeing her attempt get blocked and sent wide. Utica corralled the puck, with Kowalski getting a shot in from the middle which was also stuffed by the Panther defense.
 
Late in the second period. Utica underwent another two-minute penalty kill spell due to a hooking by the Pioneers' goalscorer in Calhoun. The visitors once again patiently dismissed any Panther opportunities, with Hawthorne making some good deflections to secure another successful penalty kill.
 
The Pioneers were rewarded for their strong defensive stand with a power play opportunity of their own, getting a 5-on-4 advantage with just under a minute left in the second period. Utica would take their advantage into the final period of play, as they had just over a minute of power play time remaining when the second period buzzer sounded.
 
The critical third period began with the score still locked at 1-1 and the Pioneers with a player-up opportunity. Utica couldn't make it 2-for-2 on the power play, as the Panthers stingy back line survived the player down passage with the scoreboard still sporting 1's.
 
A few minutes into the third, Middlebury captured their third power play of the proceedings, gaining a prime chance to steal away the momentum. A huge block by Stefanini, followed by a few near misses from the Panthers were enough for the Pioneers to remain untouched on the penalty kill, securing a third-straight power play stop to keep Middlebury scoreless in their six minutes of player-up time so far in the game.
 
Both teams began to dial up the pressure, with the increased urgency resulting in a flurry of breakaway chances by each squad. The two netminders remained unfazed, as they stopped their respective challengers.
 
As the game approached the final 10 minutes of play, Middlebury found a breakthrough, sending in a shot from the blue line that drew net after a major deflection in front of goal.
 
With the score now sitting at 2-1, it was up to the Pioneers to produce an answer. Calhoun tried to find her second score, driving up the left and putting in a shot from a tight angle which was dispelled by the Panther goalkeeper.
 
Crunch time came with Utica still facing a one goal deficit as the Pioneers elected to take a timeout and come up with a winning game plan. With just over two minutes remaining, the Pioneers put together a good offensive sequence, finding a few chances but not taking advantage of any gaps along the Panther defensive line.
 
Middlebury brought the clock down under a minute left and their pressure didn't give the Pioneers any avenue to pull Hawthorne and launch a last-ditch 6-on-5. The Panthers managed to drain the clock entirely and come away with a 2-1 victory over a strong Pioneer side.