UTICA, N.Y. – Olivia Cimorelli (West Deptford, N.J./The Hill School / Ironbound Elite) set a new program record for saves in a season while Ali Joly (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Dunbarton / Caledon Coyotes) and Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy / East Coast Wizards) lit the lamp as the Manhattanville University women's hockey team renewed its rivalry with Utica University on Friday evening with a 2-1 win. The Valiants got the upper hand in the series opener between the UCHC foes, who entered the day neck and neck in the conference standings for the final two postseason berths. Manhattanville moves into fifth in the UCHC standings and has officially clinched a spot in the UCHC Championship Tournament, improving to 5-16-1 overall and 5-6-0 in conference play while the Pioneers drop to 6-15-1 with a matching 5-6-0 UCHC mark.

Cimorelli continues to rewrite the program record book as Friday's performance is the latest chapter in what has already been a highly-decorated career for the sophomore. After reaching 1,000 career saves in the fewest games in program history earlier this season, Cimorelli moves atop the record book for saves in a season at 658 and counting. Her mark surpasses the previous record set by Franny Gerardi in the 2021-22 season of 655.

Cimorelli stopped 38 of the 39 shots she faced on the evening, her most since making 45 saves against Oswego on Jan. 17. Friday was the seventh time she has held an opponent to one or fewer goals this year, lowering her goals-against average on the year to 2.51. Cimorelli's save percentage now sits at .923 with three games left in the regular season as she picks up her fifth win of the year.

With Cimorelli holding down the fort with 12 saves in the first period, the Valiant attack broke the scoreless tie with a pair of quick strikes in the second. Joly scored for a second-straight game to put the Valiants on the board 6:19 into the period before Chinetti added her team-leading sixth goal of the season just 19 seconds later to give the Valiants a two-goal lead in what was a defense-dominated game.

The Pioneers capitalized later in the period, scoring on a 5-on-3 after a pair of Valiant penalties. Samantha Dobrzynski was able to beat Cimorelli with the numbers advantage, but that would be all the Utica offense would muster against the Valiant tender. Cimorelli stopped the final 14 shots she faced to end the night, including withstanding Utica's final barrage in the closing minutes that saw two saves and three blocked shots by the Valiant defense to secure the win.

Manhattanville's skaters were not afraid to get in the way of flying objects as the team's 20 blocked shots was the third-most in a game this season. Danika Aubin (Guy, Alberta, Canada/Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)), who contributed to the blocking frenzy at the end of the game, led Manhattanville with three. Katherine Stahl (Middletown, R.I./Middletown), playing in her 100^th career game, blocked a pair of shots alongside Jada Mackinnon (Barrington, Nova Scotia, Canada/King's Edgehill School), Colby Cantor (Norwell, Mass./North American Hockey Academy) and Emilija Tučiūtė (Vilnius, Lithuania/Ontario Hockey Academy).

Mackinnon continued to lead the Valiant faceoff effort with seven more draw wins. In all, the Pioneers dominated on the dot, 40-12.

Joly led the offense with four total shots on goal, while five other skaters logged a pair of shots on net.

Manhattanville did not have a look on the power play for the first time all season. Utica finished 1-for-3 with the woman advantage, logging nine shots.

Up Next
The teams conclude the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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