UTICA, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team began its 2025-26 postseason run by hosting the No. 6-seeded Manhattanville University Valiants in the First Round of the UCHC Championship Tournament. The Pioneers netted the only goal of the game, as first-year netminder Katie Sheahan turned in a star-studded performance, making 31 saves in her fourth shutout of the season, several of them highlight-reel worthy. The orange and blue are now slated for a Semifinal Round matchup at Elmira College this coming Saturday, the 28th.
The Pioneers scored the lone goal of the game on an odd power play goal late in the first period. With just over two minutes left in the first frame, the home squad controlled the flow of play in their offensive zone on the 5-on-4 man advantage. Freshman Samantha Dobrzynski started the play, earning her team-leading 10th assist on a pass to fellow freshman Veronica Houk, who moved the puck along to Tess Barrett. Barrett, a senior captain, took a shot from the blue line that went wide of the lower-right corner of the net. Bouncing off the boards behind the net, the puck rebounded to the back of Manhattanville's goalie, deflecting off her lower leg and into the net. Maya Jerome and Kendall Best led the team with five shots each, followed by Dobrzynski's four as the final Pioneers with more than two. Jerome and Barrett added three blocked shots each on defense.
The true star of the show was Utica's goaltending. Sheahan got better as the game progressed, making five saves in the first period, followed by counts of 10 and 16 in the next two frames, respectively. The freshman goalie has caught fire at the end of the season, earning a shutout in three of her last four games. Over the span, she has saved 82 of 83 shots faced. Her season shutout count (four) now ties the program freshman record, and she becomes the 10th Pioneer of any class year to reach four or more in a single season.
No Manhattanville player could find the back of the net, but several provided strong pressure. Colby Cantor led the Valiants with five shots, followed by Molly Sances, Abby Mellen, and Danika Aubin with four apiece. Emilija Tuciute provided a strong wall of defense, blocking four Pioneer shot attempts. In the crease, Olivia Cimorelli played strongly, making a save on all but one of the 22 shots she faced.
The Pioneers will now prepare for a Semifinal Round matchup with the No. 2-seeded Elmira Soaring Eagles, a team receiving votes in both major national polls. Puck drop for the contest is set for 3:00 pm at the Murray Athletic Center in Horseheads, New York.