UTICA, N.Y. – A four-goal first period by the hosting Utica Pioneers was too much for the Manhattanville College women's hockey team to fight back from on Saturday night as the third-seeded Valiants were defeated by No. 2 Utica in the UCHC Semifinals 7-1. The loss will officially put a close on the Valiants' 2022-23 season, finishing the campaign with a 15-11-1 overall record.

In a rematch of last season's semifinals, the Pioneers were determined to not let the Valiants pull off another come-from-behind victory as they built a comfortable four goal cushion in the opening period. Georgiana Santullo, Carly Stefanini, Abby Lillis and Cortney Staniszewski each lit the lamp in the opening 20 minutes to put the home team up 4-0 at the first intermission. It was all Pioneers to open up the game as Utica fired 23 shots on net compared to Manhattanville's five.

With the break allowing the opportunity for some adjustments, the Valiants played a strong second period of hockey. Manhattanville outshot Utica 16-12 in the frame and would get on the board 4:16 into the second on a Fjolla Berisha (Mahopac, N.Y./Brewster Lady Bulldogs (NEGHL)) unassisted score. The goal would be the senior's third of her campaign.

Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) and the Valiant defensive unit would hold the Pioneers scoreless in the second to keep the game within striking distance entering the final 20 minutes. The Valiants' senior goalie stopped all 12 shots she saw in the period.

While Manhattanville was able to find offensive opportunities in the second, Utica shutdown the Valiant attack in the third, allowing just four shots on net. Conversely, the Pioneers went back on the offensive with three more goals to close out the night and advance to the UCHC Championship.

Gerardi would finish the night with 46 total saves, ending her senior season with back-to-back 600 save seasons. She closes out the year with a .935 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average, climbing into second all-time in the program record book for career saves with 1,589.

Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School), Brysha Schmidt (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./The Millbrook School) and Morgan Miller (St. Augustine, Fla./Gilmour Academy) each would finish with a team-leading five shots.

The Pioneers went 31-18 on the night's faceoffs. Miller led the effort for the Valiants with 12 wins on the dot.

Manhattanville finished 0-for-4 on the power play, firing 19 shots with the extra skater. Utica went 1-for-3, putting seven shots on net.

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