Box Score ROCHESTER, NY – Senior
Ivey Lyden scored 1:19 into overtime the help lift the 13
th-ranked Nazareth women's hockey team to a 3-2 victory over #14 Utica University Pioneers in the UCHC title game on Saturday at Tim Horton's Iceplex. With the win, Nazareth has earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women' Hockey Championships. Nazareth has now won four-straight UCHC titles, including the last three against the Pioneers. The Golden Flyers defeated Utica 2-1 in 2023-24, 3-2 in two overtimes in 2022-23, and Manhattanvile 7-0 in 2021-22.
Lyden was named the Tournament MVP, while
Amy Laskowski,
Abby Flanagan,
McKinley Hoff, and
Sami Quackenbush named All-Tournament.
The NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Championship selection show will take place on Sunday, March 9 at 8:30 a.m. on NCAA.com
Nazareth is now 20-6-1 overall, while Utica drops to 19-8.
Nazareth led 2-1 after two periods but Utica was able to net the equalizer near the midway point of the third. With neither squad scoring again in regulation, the game headed to overtime.
That set up the dramatic, winner-take-all overtime period. Lyden's goal was the first and only shot of the overtime period. Freshman
Brooke Judkiewicz jetted through the neutral zone and found Lyden streaking in front of the net for the overtime winner. Lyden's winner ensured the senior, along with classmate
Sydney Swanson, won a UCHC title in all four seasons.
Abby Flanagan also had an assist on the winner.
It was a fairly even first period with the Golden Flyers holding an 8-7 shot advantage.
McKinley Hoff made seven saves in the period, her last the 1,282
nd, which surpassed Adrianna Brehm '22 (1,281) for the all-time record. Hoff finished the game with 20 saves.
With around four minutes remaining in the period, a strong forecheck led to UCHC Player/Rookie of the Year,
Amy Laskowski, netting her 14
th of the season.
Kate Cascio kept it in the zone and
Nikki Sharp dropped the pass back to a charging Laskowski for the tally.
It was 1-0 after a period.
Nazareth upped its lead to 2-0 near the midway point of the second period on Flanagan's ninth of the season. Flanagan, coming straight from the bench, found an opening in the slot and put home a pass from
Ella Mannila and
Alexis Jones.
After a giveaway, Utica scored just eight seconds later to make the score 2-1. It would remain that way heading into the final period.
The Pioneers turned one of their five shots in the third period to a goal at the 9:03 mark.
