UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team is set to return to action in a home-and-home set with the St. John Fisher University Cardinals. The teams will first face off at the Utica University Nexus Center on Friday, February 6th, at 4:00 pm before heading to the Rochester Ice Arena to play the following day at 3:00 pm.

Follow Along: The video stream for Friday's game can be found HERE, with live stats HERE. The video stream for Saturday's matchup can be found HERE, with live stats located HERE. Those interested in attending the game in Rochester can purchase tickets HERE.

New Faces, Same Rivalry: This weekend's matchup between the Pioneers and Cardinals will be the first time the two programs have matched up. With St. John Fisher starting its women's hockey program and joining the UCHC at the start of this season, it brings about a new chapter in a long-standing rivalry between Utica and St. John Fisher Athletics. 

Last Time Out: The Pioneers took two losses at the hands of #7/6-ranked Nazareth University, both by scores of 3-1. In game one, Kendall Best (Troy, MI/Troy High School) scored off a Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/) shot rebound to tie the game at 1-1. However, constant pressure from Nazareth resulted in the Golden Flyers scoring the game-winning goal just over a minute later. In game two, Brooklyn Higgins (Gilbert, AZ/) scored her first collegiate goal off a Dylan DiGrazia (Scottsdale, AZ/) rebound to give the Pioneers a lead going into the first intermission, but continued pressure on offense from Nazareth led to them outshooting the Pioneers 40-17. The imbalance led to goals in the latter half of the game that gave the Golden Flyers the win.

Notes on Fisher: The Cardinals enter their first-ever matchup with the Pioneers with a record of 9-9-1, while going 4-3-1 in UCHC play. Fisher is coming in hot, currently riding a 5-game win streak, including two UCHC series sweeps against Manhattanville and Chatham Universities. They won their last two games against Chatham in convincing fashion, winning game one 5-1 before coming back the next night and winning 4-1.

The Cardinals are led on offense by freshman Keira Reckley, who leads the team in goals with eight, and points with 14. The Frisco native is also tied for the team lead in assists with Ellie Prantner and Eiblheann Knox, all of whom have six. In net for the Cardinals is freshman Brynn Bacak, who, through 17 games, has posted a .944 save percentage and a 1.88 goals against average.

Up Next: The Pioneers will have two home games next weekend as they welcome UCHC foe Manhattanville for two games at the Nexus Center. Puck drop on Friday, the 13th, is set for 4:00 pm, while on Saturday, the 14th, the game will start at 1:00 pm.