UTICA, N.Y. – Suffolk women's hockey was setback in its 2023-24 season opener, 6-2, by No. 13 Utica at the Utica Kick-Off Tournament Friday night at the Nexus Center.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | No. 13 Utica 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1-0) | No. 13 Utica (1-0-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Utica poured in three unanswered goals, two in the first and one in the second, to force the Rams to play catchup.  

Sammy Lassman ignited the comeback 2:41 out of the locker room the second time. The junior found the back of the net thanks to help from Liliana Moose to pull the blue-and-gold within two.  

The Pioneers potted back-to-back tallies to make it a 5-1 game before Ashley Bialas responded for the Rams with help from Jenny Drevitch with 7:09 remaining in regulation. 

Utica used a power play tally from Carly Stefanini at the 15:49 mark to put Suffolk in a 6-2 hole that remained when the clock hit zero. 

NETMINDER NOTES

• Lily O'Neil had 29 stops in the setback. 
• Angela Hawhtorne notched a 23-save effort.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Bialas and Lassman scored one goal each for the Rams. 
• Drevitch and Moose had one assist apiece. 
• Utica outshot Suffolk, 35-25. 
• The Rams went 0-for 4 on the power play, while the Pioneers scored four of their six goals with an extra skater. 
• Utica won the face off battle, 33-17. 

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams opened the Abby Ostrom era. 
• Suffolk began its campaign on the road for the fourth time in program history, second straight season. 
• Suffolk moved to 1-3-0 in game one on the road. 
• Suffolk faced a nationally ranked opponent in game one for the first time. 
• Suffolk and Utica met for the first time. 
• Bialas recorded her first point as a Ram with a goal.
• Drevitch racked up her first collegiate points with one assist. 
• Anya Nichipor, Drevitch, Bella Schmidt, Katie Newkirk, Cassie Borowski and Aiden Levee-Oshiro made their collegiate debuts. 
• Sydney Fascetta, Bialas, Maddie Gagliano and Kellie Popkin skated as Rams for the first time. 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams skate in the Utica Kick-Off Tournament consolation contest tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. versus No. 12 Elmira.