Lancers Drop Battle to #11 Utica

Worcester, MA- With the return to home ice in 2025 on Tuesday, with a 3-2 conference win versus Framingham State, the Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team (7-6, 5-1) it set to make their mark Thursday night in a non-conference meeting with the #11 ranked Utica College Pioneers. Worcester just recently matched up with #3 Amherst this past weekend and are primed for their second ranked team in a week. 

Final

Worcester State: 0

Utica: 3

How it Happened:

The opening period would see a strong Lancers front holding. Steady defense to force the Pioneers to move the puck around the ice. It was nearly a flawless period over the opening 10 minutes outside a quick crease pop goal by Utica to claim the 1-0 lead. Junior Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA) and her defense holding Lancers would come away with 17 saves in the action, but the attack added their own pressure with six attempts on the Pioneers.

The Lancers came out in the attack in the second period recording three shots in the opening minute to set Utica on their heels. Some early excitement on defense had the Pioneers aiming for a one on one breakaway that was deftly knocked away with a quick jab from Czerniawski. With just seven minutes to go in the period Utica would add a second goal to their tally after working to find a gap in the Lancer defensive pressure after a strong power kill from Worcester State. Worcester would continue their valiant effort from the second until the final horn sounded for their second intermission.

The third would see the same ferocity as Worcester looked to cut into the Pioneers lead, but Utica was determined to maintain the possession and offensive pressure. Czerniawski would make numerous lunging saves to keep the goal differential at just two. A third period powerplay would prove successful in providing Utica their third goal with just under seven minutes to go. The Lancers added another layer of pressure in the final minutes of regulation looking to grab one back from Utica but the Pioneer defense would hold the Lancer charge off for the 3-0 victory.

Czerniawski would end the night with 44 saves while graduate student Sydney Vautour (Hamilton, MA) would lead the Lancer attack with five attempts on the night.

What's Next:

The Lancers (7-7, 5-1) return to their conference schedule on Saturday night when they face off against the Anna Maria Amcats.