HORSEHEADS, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team continued its run within the UCHC Championship Tournament by travelling to face the #2-seeded Elmira College Soaring Eagles, a team receiving votes in both major national polls. Each team tacked one on the scoreboard in the opening frame, but a mid-second period goal by the home team gave the Soaring Eagles the edge needed to advance into the conference championship game off a 2-1 final score. This result concludes the 2025-26 season for the Pioneer women's hockey team.

In her final game in the orange and blue, captain Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/) netted the lone Pioneer goal. The goal was assisted on by fellow senior captain Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's), and first-year defender Veronica Houk (Richboro, PA). Utica was limited to just 12 shots on goal in the contest, led by Elliott and Samantha Dobrynzski with three, followed by Barrett and Nora Pollestad (Stavanger, Norway/), who each had two. Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/) and Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/) added the final two for the team. Jerome additionally led the team with five blocked shots, marking just the fourth instance of such since tracking began in 2016-17. Freshman netminder Katie Sheahan (Oak Lawn, IL) continued to start between the pipes for Utica, saving 30 of 32 shots.

The Soaring Eagles' scoring was split between Amber Meluzio and Anna Lugge. MK Boyle led the team with two assists, followed by Savannah Barber and Rian Comeau pocketing one each. Elmira put 32 shots on target in the game, led by Mo McBride with seven, and Meluzio and Lugge with four each. Olivia Last played in net for the home team, saving all but one of 12 shots faced.

Elmira opened the scoring in the game off Meluzio's goal 8:52 into play. Comeau and Boyle received credit for assists on the play. 4:15 later, Elliott netted a power play goal from Barrett and Houk to even the score at one apiece. The home team netted the game-winning goal at 9:36 of the second period, giving the 2-1 score that held through the final horn.

The result concludes the 2025-26 season for Utica women's hockey. Elmira will now go on the road to take on Nazareth University for the UCHC Championship. Be sure to stay tuned to uticapioneers.com and follow Utica Athletics on social media for more information on the 2026-27 Utica women's hockey season as it approaches.