HAMBURG, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team opened its 2026-27 UCHC play by beginning a two-game road set with Hilbert College. At the Hawks' home Nike Base Ice Rink, the Pioneers applied heavy pressure, taking a 6-2 win in the first matchup. Utica, which holds a 5-0 record against Hilbert, will look to continue their winning ways in a road rematch tomorrow at 2:00 pm.
Eight Pioneers ended the night with a point, led by junior transfer
Julia Chedel (Haverhill, MA/Kimball Union Academy). The defender netted the eventual game-winning goal, adding two assists in the process. Fellow defender
Veronica Houk (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) was the only other player in the multi-point club for the night (one goal, one assist), extending her point streak to four games. The orange and blue's remaining goal scorers were sophomores
Scarlett Smith (Toronto, Ontario/St. Martin Secondary) and
Kyler Weatherred (Eagle, CO/Ralston Valley), and freshmen
Kiernan Ledoux (Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest) and
Meghan Goldie (Rothesay, NB/North America Hockey Academy). Utica's remaining assisters were
Maddi Vitali (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) and
Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, FL/Trinity Prep.). Between the pipes,
Yael Fatiev (Kiryat Shmona, Israel/Ontario Hockey Academy) turned away 10 of 12 shots on target.
Utica wasted little time establishing its attack, putting the game's first four shots on goal before Goldie opened the scoring at 3:51. Garganese and Vitali assisted on the freshman's second goal of the season. Weatherred doubled the lead with an unassisted tally at 11:38, and Chedel added another unassisted goal at 16:29 to send the Pioneers into the first intermission ahead 3-0. The orange and blue held a 22-3 advantage in shots on goal during the opening frame.
The Pioneers continued to pressure the Hawks in the second period, adding their fourth goal at 7:35. Ledoux finished assists from Chedel and Houk for her first collegiate goal. Utica put 14 shots on goal in the period and killed Hilbert's first power-play opportunity to carry a 4-0 lead into the second intermission.
Houk extended the advantage at 6:18 of the third, scoring off Chedel's second assist of the night. Hilbert responded less than two minutes later with a goal from Ella Voisin, Hilbert's first-ever goal against Utica, but Smith restored the five-goal margin with an unassisted score at 11:29. The Hawks added a final goal from Harris with two seconds remaining to bring the score to 6-2. Utica finished with a 59-12 advantage in shots on goal, while Hilbert netminder Thompson made 53 saves.
Both squads return to action tomorrow in a rematch. The game will again take place in Hamburg, NY, at the Nike Base Ice Rink, with puck drop set for 2:00 pm. The orange and blue return to the Nexus Center next Friday, November 20th, in a matchup with #12/11 Elmira College, set for 4:00 pm.
