10-03-2025
Pioneers, Continentals going to D-III tournament
UTICA AND CLINTON, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Despite a tough loss to SUNY Geneseo over the weekend, the Utica University men's hockey team are still going dancing for the third straight year.
The Pioneers could not avenge a Teddy Bear Toss Night loss to the Knights, losing 7-3 at the Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday. However, the Pioneers, at 21-4-2, were able to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey tournament, announced on Monday, March 10.
Utica will face off with Fitchburg State, out of Massachusetts. The Falcons (15-12-1) earned the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) title on Saturday, beating the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 3-1. With the win, the Falcons won their first MASCAC title in seven years, and third overall.
This will be the first meeting in recent history between the two teams. The winner will play the winner of St. Norbert College of Wisconsin and Gustavus Adolphus College of Minnesota on Saturday, March 22.
Another local team — the Hamilton College Continentals — won the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship on Saturday, joining Utica in the Tournament. The Continentals shut out Tufts, 3-0 at Sage Rink on Sunday afternoon, upping their record to 20-6-1. It is the first NESCAC title for Hamilton and the second time the team has played in the final game, losing in 2017. The Continentals also went to the Division III Championship that season.
The Continentals will face off with the University of New England (18-7-1), who earned one of the four at-large spots. The Nor'Easters lost in overtime of the Conference of New England semifinals on Saturday, March 1.
This is the first time the two teams have played each other since 2011. Hamilton knocked off the Nor'Easters 10-7 that day on the back of eight second-period goals. The winner of the Hamilton-New England game will face off with top-ranked Curry College on Saturday, March 22.
The faceoff between Utica and Fitchburg State is scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday, March 15 at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Hamilton will travel to Biddeford, Maine for their game — the place where they faced New England the last time the two met. Puck drop in that game is set for 7 pm on Saturday, March 15.
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