UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's hockey team is set to open United Collegiate Hockey Conference play with a two-game road series at Hilbert College. The Pioneers will challenge the Hawks on Friday, November 13th, at 7:00 pm and Saturday, November 14th, at 2:00 pm. Both games will take place at Nike Base Ice Rink in Hamburg, NY.
Laker Lookback: Utica split a pair of one-goal games against Oswego State last weekend, a team that was receiving votes in both the USCHO and DIIIHockeyNews national polls. In Friday's road matchup, the Pioneers held a pair of one-goal leads before the Lakers tied the score at 2-2 in the third period.
Kendall Best (Troy, MI/Troy) scored on a breakaway with 29.4 seconds remaining to secure the 3-2 victory.
Autumn Frear (Marshall, VA/Gilmour Academy) and
Veronica Houk (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) also scored, while
Kyler Weatherred (Eagle, CO/Ralston Valley) contributed two assists and
Yael Fatiev (Kiryat Shmona, Israel/Ontario Hockey Academy) made 25 saves.
Saturday's rematch at the Nexus Center remained scoreless through two periods before the teams traded power-play goals in the third. Frear netted the equalizer off a rebound, with Houk and
Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) earning assists. Oswego State's Julia Power scored with 16.6 seconds remaining in overtime to give the visitors a 2-1 victory. Fatiev turned away 35 shots in the contest.
Freshman Finishing: Frear scored in both games against Oswego State, netting her first collegiate goal in Friday's win before adding Saturday's tying tally. The freshman is tied with Best for the team lead in goals, with two apiece. Frear's first came after
Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/Homeschooled) forced a turnover in the Lakers' defensive zone, while her second came on the power play after Houk's shot created a rebound.
Best for Last: Best's late winner on Friday marked her second game-winning goal in as many games. The junior also supplied the deciding goal in Utica's 2-0 victory at William Smith on October 31st. Best added a defensive highlight in Saturday's rematch with Oswego State, blocking four shots for the program's 18th instance of four or more blocks in a game since tracking began in the 2016-17 season.
Houk's Helping Hand: After assisting on Best's winner against William Smith, Houk recorded a goal and an assist during the Oswego State series. The sophomore enters the Hilbert weekend with a three-game point streak, contributing from the blue line in each of Utica's last three contests.
Between the Pipes: Fatiev made 60 saves on 64 shots during the two games against Oswego State, following a 42-for-42 opening weekend against William Smith. The freshman's first collegiate start featured a 40-save shutout that earned her both UCHC and Empire 8 Goaltender of the Week honors. Through her first four appearances, Fatiev has stopped 102 of 106 shots good for a .962 save percentage. Through 194:13, Fatiev has posted a 1.24 goals-allowed average.
Special Teams Spotlight: The Pioneers have scored a power-play goal in three of their first four contests, with
Meghan Goldie (Rothesay, NB/North America Hockey Academy), Dobrzynski, and Frear each converting once. Utica killed all eight William Smith opportunities in its opening series before holding Oswego State to one power-play goal on six chances last weekend.
History Vs. The Hawks: Utica holds a 4-0-0 record against Hilbert, with all four previous meetings taking place at home. The Pioneers have outscored the Hawks 42-0 across the series, including 8-0 and 6-0 victories last season. This weekend marks Utica's first trip to Hilbert in the series.
Hilbert Headquarters: Hilbert enters the conference opener 2-0-0 after opening its season with a pair of home victories over Neumann. The Hawks claimed a 2-1 win on Friday, November 6th, before completing the sweep with a 4-2 victory the following day.
Sophomore Victoria Battaglia leads Hilbert with two goals and three points, while Avery Bauman and Victoria Koenig have each supplied two assists. Bauman leads the team with 13 shots, followed by Kelsey Fuller with 12 and Battaglia with 11. In goal, Brook Thompson started both games against Neumann, turning away 42 of 45 shots for a .933 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average. The Hawks outshot Neumann 82-45 over the two games, went 1-for-11 on the power play, and killed all eight opposing opportunities.
Up Next: Utica returns home to open a UCHC home-and-home series against #12/11 Elmira College on Friday, November 20th. Puck drop at the Nexus Center is scheduled for 4:00 pm before the Pioneers visit the Soaring Eagles on Saturday, November 21st, at 6:00 pm.
