UTICA, NY - Utica University women's hockey closed out its fall semester schedule with a home matchup against the #4-ranked Middlebury College Panthers. Utica added heavy pressure in the final period, but scoring in each frame allowed the visitors to take the game 5-1. This was the Pioneers' final game of the 2025 calendar year, as they will now take nearly a month off. The team will return to action in the Utica University Kick-Off Tournament, with games set for both January 3rd and 4th.

Sophomore defender Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/) scored the lone goal of the game for Utica, her team-leading fourth of the season. Veronica Houk (Richboro, PA) and Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/) added assists on Jerome's goal. Katherine Sheahan (Oak Lawn, IL) manned the crease, making 30 saves across the three periods.

Caroline Thomas scored both of Middlebury's first two goals, with the latter counting as the game-winner. Avery McInerny scored and assisted on one goal, joining Thomas and Susannah Ward (two assists) as the only Panthers with multiple points. Britt Nawrocki and Adrienne Hall netted Middlebury's other two scores. Sophia Will played in net for the Panthers, saving all but one of the 26 shots she faced.

Thomas struck first for Middlebury at the 12:27 mark of the 1st, deflecting a shot in front of the net to break the tie. She pocketed another deflection goal just a few minutes into the 2nd period. Nawrocki scored with 6:58 left in the 2nd to end the period 3-0 Middlebury. The visitors added goals at the 4:42 and 7:31 marks of the 3rd period to take a 5-0 lead before Jerome netted the final goal of the game with 7:48 left.

This game concluded the 2025 slate of the 2025-26 season. The Pioneers will now look ahead to the Utica University Kick Off Tournament on January 3rd and 4th. Utica will take on Wilkes University on day one of the tournament, with puck drop scheduled for 1:00 pm. Following Utica's game, SUNY Cortland and Colby College will face off. The following day, the losing teams from day one will play in a consolation game at 1:00 pm, followed by the championship game, scheduled for 4:00 pm.