UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team is set to open its 2026-27 regular season in an upcoming home-and-home set with the William Smith College Herons. The Pioneers, who won both of their preseason exhibitions, will open the season with a home game on Friday before challenging the Herons in their home rink the following day. Opening puck drop in both contests is set for 4:00 pm.

Tune-Up Takeaways: Utica opened its exhibition schedule with a 4-2 comeback victory over Lebanon Valley College on October 17th. After conceding twice in the opening period, the Pioneers scored four unanswered goals across the final two frames. Autumn Frear (Marshall, VA/Gilmour Academy) led the scoring with two goals and an assist, while Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/Homeschooled) supplied three assists and Katie Collins (Ithaca, NY/Lovell Academy) contributed a goal and an assist. Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) also scored, with Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/Huron) adding two assists and Penny Saich (Norwell, MA/Norwell) recording one. Katie Sheahan (Oak Lawn, IL/North American Hockey Academy) made 13 saves, while Yael Fatiev (Kiryat Shmona, Israel/Ontario Hockey Academy) stopped all 14 shots she faced during regulation. Following the 60 minutes, the teams completed agreed-upon practice overtime and shootout sessions. Dobrzynski scored during the 3-on-3 period off an assist from Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, FL/Trinity Prep.). Lebanon Valley then took the shootout 1-0, with Fatiev stopping two of three attempts and Kyler Weatherred (Eagle, CO/Ralston Valley), Dobrzynski, and Frear each denied on Utica's attempts.

The Pioneers followed with a 3-1 road exhibition victory over Wilkes University on October 23rd. The Colonels entered ranked #8 in both the USCHO and DIIIHockeyNews polls. The result reversed the score of last season's meeting at the Utica University Kickoff Tournament and completed a pair of preseason wins for the orange and blue.

Scoring Synergy: Frear, Collins, and DiGrazia were involved in each of Utica's final three regulation goals against Lebanon Valley. Collins and DiGrazia assisted on Frear's second-period equalizer before DiGrazia and Jerome helped set up Frear's go-ahead tally in the third. Collins then supplied the insurance goal with 6:24 remaining, assisted by Frear and DiGrazia. The Pioneers will look to carry that offensive connection into the regular season after the two freshmen combined for three goals in their first collegiate exhibition.

William Smith Watch: William Smith finished 12-15-0 overall and 7-7-0 in conference play last season, averaging 1.78 goals scored and 2.44 allowed per game. The Herons return leading scorers Bella Hacker and Finley Crosby, who recorded 14 points apiece. Hacker led the team with eight goals, while Crosby added seven. In net, Mia Iwicki returns after posting a .927 save percentage, a 2.62 goals-against average, and three shutouts across 21 appearances.

Special Teams Spotlight: Utica's comeback against Lebanon Valley began with Dobrzynski's power-play goal just 43 seconds into the second period. The Pioneers will look to capitalize on their opportunities against a William Smith penalty kill that successfully defended 61 of 70 opposing power plays last season, an 87.1 percent success rate. The Herons scored seven times in 70 power-play opportunities of their own. Discipline will also be a point of emphasis for Utica after both Lebanon Valley goals came with the advantage.

Revisiting the Rivalry: Utica holds a 7-4-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 4-1-1 record at home. The Pioneers won the first six meetings between the programs, but William Smith has taken the last three, each by a single goal. Their most recent meeting ended in a 2-1 Heron victory in Geneva on February 22, 2020. The last four matchups have all been decided by one goal or finished in a tie.

Up Next: The Pioneers will continue non-conference play with a home-and-home series against Oswego State. Utica visits Marano Campus Center Arena on Friday, November 6th, before hosting the Lakers at the Nexus Center on Saturday, November 7th. Both games are scheduled for 3:00 pm.