ROCHESTER, NY – Freshman Ella Cedrone scored early in the third period and senior goaltender McKinley Hoff made 32 saves to lead the top-seeded Nazareth University women's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over No. 2 seed Utica University Saturday from Tim Horton's IcePlex to claim its third consecutive United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Tournament Championship.

The win earned the No. 14 Golden Flyers (22-5-1) an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The selection show announcement of the dates and opponents for the tournament will take place at 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. 

Utica, who entered the game ranked No. 11 nationally, out-shot Nazareth, 33-24. The Golden Flyers were 2-for-3 on the power-play, while Utica was 0-for-1.

Senior Julia Holmes opened the scoring with a blast from the point on a Nazareth power play in the first period. Cedrone and graduate student Makenna Wiljanen had assists on the play as the Golden Flyers took a 1-0 lead at 10:42 in the first period.

Utica (22-4-2) tied the score in the second period with a goal by Hailey Modlin off a rebound at the 7:42 mark of the stanza.

The score remained tied through the remainder of the second period and into the third period with the help of strong goaltending from Hoff and the help of a friendly bounce off the cross bar in the final minute of the frame.

Cedrone redirected a shot in front of the goal with 15:21 remaining in regulation after the original shot from Wiljanen was blocked past Hawthorne with for a 2-1 Nazareth lead. Holmes added the second assist on the play.

Hoff made three saves in the closing minutes as Utica pulled its goalie for the extra attacker. Utica had one last dangerous chance in the slot with five seconds left that Lyden  The senior goaltender was named the tournament MVP with a pair of shutouts leading to the championship game and 32 saves in the win over Utica.

Holmes, Wiljanen and Cedrone joined junior Ivey Lyden on the All-Tournament team along with Utica's Kaci Ryder and Madison Novotny.

Nazareth advances to its third straight NCAA Tournament.

2024 UCHC Women's Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team
Julia Holmes, D, Nazareth
Ivey Lyden, D, Nazareth
Madison Novotny, D, Utica
Ella Cedrone, F, Nazareth
Makenna Wiljanen, F, Nazareth
Kaci Ryder, F, Utica

2024 UCHC Women's Tournament Most Valuable Player
McKinley Hoff, G, Nazareth