UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team opened its 2026-27 season with a home preseason exhibition against Lebanon Valley College. The visiting Dutchmen jumped out with the first two goals of the game, but a continuous Pioneer attack gave way to a 4-2 win in regulation play for the Pioneers. After 60:00, both teams agreed to practice both an overtime period and a shootout, regardless of the regulation score, in which Utica scored once in the 3-on-3 play and fell 1-0 in the save-filled shootout.
While it took the Pioneers a period to get their feet under them, the offense soon started producing strongly, with several notable performances during the regulation periods, many by debuting Pioneers. Freshman
Autumn Frear (Marshall, VA/Gilmour Academy) made the most of her first appearance on collegiate ice, scoring two goals of her own and assisting another. Joining her in the three-point club was returner
Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/Homeschooled), who turned in all three via helpers. Fellow first-year
Katie Collins (Ithaca, NY/Lovell Academy) added both a goal and an assist, with last year's points leader
Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) netting the final score for the orange and blue. Remaining Utica points were accounted for by assists from
Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/Huron) (two) and
Penny Saich (Norwell, MA/Norwell) (one). Goalies
Katie Sheahan (Oak Lawn, IL/North American Hockey Academy) and
Yael Fatiev (Kiryat Shmona, Israel/Ontario Hockey Academy) had a near-even split of the first 60 minutes, with Sheahan saving 13/15 faced, and Fatiev stopping all 14.
Dobrzynski knocked in a score during the added practice overtime session, completing an assist from
Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, FL/Trinity Prep.). Fatiev remained in goal for the Pioneers during the extra shootout, saving two of the three attempts she faced.
Kyler Weatherred (Eagle, CO/Ralston Valley), Dobrzynski, and Frear took Utica's three attempts, all three saved.
Lebanon Valley opened the game with energy, putting 14 shots on goal to Utica's five in the opening frame. Aiding the Pioneers' woes were two penalties, both of which were converted into power-play scores. Leela Nemani opened the scoring after 4:40, completing assists for Lauren Pennino and McKayla Romano. With 1:06 remaining before the first intermission, the two assisting players repeated their feat, this time with a goal by Addi Alaoui. Shortly after play resumed, an interference call on the Dutchmen allowed Utica to close the first period and start the second on the power play.
With the man advantage, Dobrzynski struck back just 43 seconds after play resumed, jolting the Pioneers into gear. Jerome and Saich added helpers on the first goal of the 2026-27 season. 12 minutes later, Frear got her night started by finishing a goal from DiGrazia and Collins. The score stood through the remaining time in the period, entering the final third tied 2-2.
The orange and blue took their first lead 8:45 into the final period, again of the stick of Frear. Jerome and DiGrazia were credited with assists, the second of the contest for each. With 6:24 remaining, Collins completed her score to finish the 4-2 final. Frear and DiGrazia added assists on the play to both reach three total points in regulation.
Utica women's hockey is set for one more preseason exhibition, challenging Wilkes University in a road matchup next Friday, October 23rd. Opening puck drop is set for 5:00 pm at the Toyota SportsPlex. The orange and blue return to Utica for the regular season opener the following Friday, October 30th, when William Smith College comes to the Nexus Center for a 4:00 pm-scheduled matchup.
