24-03-2025
Utica University earns spot, hosting duties for D-III Frozen Four
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Utica University Pioneers haven't had to travel all that far this postseason. Now, they won't have to leave Utica if they want to earn the team's first national championship.
The Pioneers earned a spot in the Division III Frozen Four with a 5-3 win over St. Norbert on Saturday. A few hours later, the Pioneers learned that they will host the games on Friday and Sunday, March 28 and 29.
The last time the Pioneers left the Adirondack Bank Center for a game was February 22, when they took both halves of a weekend series with Manhattanville.
Thanks to Utica City FC games on both Friday and Sunday and a Utica Comets game on Saturday, all three games will likely be played on the ice of the Utica University Nexus Center. The Pioneers will play top-seeded Curry College at 7 pm, while SUNY Geneseo plays two-time defending champion Hobart in the matinee at 3 pm.
The Colonels prevented an all-local Frozen Four game Saturday afternoon by knocking off Hamilton, 4-1. Utica currently leads the all-time series over Curry, winning the last five games they've played. All but one of those games were played in at the Adirondack Bank Center. The last time the two teams played was in 2022, with the Pioneers scoring four unanswered goals in a 6-2 win.
This is Utica's second straight appearance in the Frozen Four and fourth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament. Last year, the Pioneers fell to Hobart, 3-1 despite a 24-save effort from Ethan Roberts.
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