UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team is set for one game this week, against the Worcester State University Lancers. On Wednesday, January 14th, the Pioneers will host their Gold Ribbon Game, reviving a traditional event to raise awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. The team will take just over a week off following the game, and will stay on the road until the final day of the month.

Follow Along: The video stream of all Utica home games can be found HERE, with live stats located HERE. Those interested in purchasing Gold Ribbon Game T-Shirts can find them HERE.

United in Gold: The gold ribbon is the international symbol for childhood cancer awareness, representing all forms of cancer that affect children and adolescents. Chosen as a symbol due to gold's status as a precious metal, the ribbon reflects the value and importance of the lives it represents. First introduced in the late 1990s, the gold ribbon has evolved into a globally recognized emblem that unites communities, raises awareness, and supports families affected by childhood cancer. By wearing gold and promoting awareness, organizations and individuals stand together in solidarity, helping to shine a light on the ongoing fight against childhood cancer.

Throughout the mid-2010s, the Pioneers annually held their Gold Ribbon Game. While the final annual iteration of the event occurred in 2017, several standalone Gold Ribbon Games have been scheduled since, with Utica holding a 7-2 record entering their 10th Gold Ribbon Game. In the games, the Pioneers have outscored their opponents 39-15, highlighted by a 12-2 win over Wilkes in the 2021-22 season. Worcester State is playing in its second Gold Ribbon Game, following a 4-1 loss to the Pioneers in November 2023, the most recent game.

Miracle Ice Moments: Utica and SUNY Canton met for a two-game neutral-site series at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, opening Friday with a 2-2 tie that was decided in a shootout. Utica built a two-goal lead in the first period on a power-play goal by Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/) at 9:06 and an even-strength tally from Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/) at 17:18, before Canton answered with two third-period goals by Riley Andzel (10:53) and Joey Schemenauer (15:00) to force overtime. After a scoreless extra period, the Kangaroos scored the lone shootout goal in the fifth round. Saturday's rematch ended in a 3-2 Canton victory, as Lucy Beal opened the scoring on a first-period power play before Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/) tied the game with a power-play goal midway through the second. Kyra O'Keefe restored Canton's lead later in the period, but Ryder again responded early in the third to reeven the score before Andzel netted the game-winning goal just 34 seconds later. Alex Venning (Courtice, ON/) made 26 saves in Friday's opener and followed with 27 saves on Saturday, as Utica recorded 20 shots on goal in the finale and held a 10-6 edge in third-period shots.

Pioneers by the Period: Through the first 14 games, Utica has begun to establish trends between games and even between periods. The Pioneers have often jumped out to a lead playing clean hockey, followed by low-scoring second periods, and then chased opponents in high-pressure, yet low-efficiency, third periods. Utica's best shot percentage per period comes in the opening frame, where the orange and blue have scored on 8.4% of their shots. On special teams, the Pioneers have often taken advantage early, holding a 27.27% power play percentage and a 91.77% penalty kill percentage in the first 20 minutes, both of which are Utica's per-period bests.

While lower efficiency than the first, Utica often tightens the gap in the second period, as they hold a -2 differential in both second-period shots and goals, allowing an opposing shooting percentage of 7.41%, the lowest of all three periods. The special teams metrics start to turn on the Pioneers in the second period, however, as while Utica's power play percentage falls to 10.53%, their opponents' has climbed to 21.05%.

The final frame of regulation has proved interesting for the Pioneers, as the team holds large margins in shot counts, but opponent efficiency has overshadowed the pressure. Just short of 40% of Utica's total shots have come in the third period, for a total of 165, which is 43 more than their opponents. In addition, the orange and blue have converted four of 16 total power play opportunities in the final 20, sitting just 2.27% below their first-period value. The volume has come at a cost of overall efficiency however, as Utica's shot percentage drops to 5.45% in the third period, less than half of their opponents' totals. On the flip side, opponent shot percentage and power play conversion percentage shoot up to 12.3% and 40% respectively, both per-period highs.

Lancer Lowdown: Worcester State has begun its season with a 6-8-0 overall record, but leads its conference, the MASCAC, with 12 points and a 4-1-0 record. Junior Abbey Millman leads the team with seven points, a result of a two-goal, five-assist season. She is the only Lancer with more than three assists. Emily Johns leads the team with four goals, additionally tallying one assist. Madelyn Franta and Lea Gasper each scored three goals, with Franta having three assists and Gasper owning two. Senior Kelsey Czerniawski has played around 70% of Worcester State's ice time in net, recording a 1.98 goals-allowed average and a .944 save percentage through 10 games played.

Up Next: The Pioneers will take a week off before returning to play for a two-game road series against Albertus Magnus College on January 23rd and 24th. Puck drop is set for 5:00 pm and 4:00 pm, respectively. Utica will play a third road game against #5-ranked Nazareth on January 30th before rematching the team on home ice the following day at 3:00 pm.