UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team hosted the #11-ranked Oswego State Lakers in game two of a miniseries between the teams. After falling 3-0 in Oswego, the Pioneers took the game on home ice 1-0. Freshman goalie Katherine Sheahan was a key difference maker for the orange and blue, making 40 saves for her first shutout in collegiate play. The win was the first of the season for the Pioneers, as the Lakers fell to 2-2.
Offensively, the one-goal win was pioneered by Maya Jerome, Tess Barrett, and Dylan DiGrazia. Jerome scored the game-winner off of assists by Barrett and DiGrazia. Veronica Houk joined Jerome with a team-leading four shots on goal, followed by Elliana Lasher with three, and Nora Pollestad with two as the only other multi-shot Pioneers. Sheahan was called upon more as the game progressed as the Utica goalie, making nine saves in the 1st period, followed by 15 in the 2nd, and 16 in the 3rd.
Oswego kept continuous pressure on the home squad despite not finding the back of the net. The team had 12 separate players take more than one shot on goal, with eight of them tallying three or more. Erika Parenti was excellent at the faceoff dot for the Lakers, winning 15 of her 19 draws. Mia Devivo played in net for the visitors, finishing with 16 saves in her 58:34 time on ice.
The lone score of the game came in the back half of the 1st period. With 4:21 on the clock, the teams were set for a faceoff draw in Utica's offensive zone, to the left side of Oswego's net. After the linesman called for a redraw, DiGrazia skated to the dot, winning the puck back to her teammate, Barrett. Barrett passed the puck along the blue line to Jerome, who buried the puck in the next six seconds after the puck drop to take the lead and score what held to be the game-winning goal.
The Pioneers will take the ice for two home games next weekend, both against Hilbert College. Friday's game, on November 14th, has puck drop set for 4:00 pm. The following day, the teams will rematch in a contest scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm.