Pittsburgh, Pa. - On Friday the Cougars hosted the Utica Pioneers for their home opener and fell by a score of 7-0.

In the first period the Pioneers got out to an early lead with their first goal with 8:38 left in the first period. They would score a second with a little over a minute left in the period and took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Cougars were out shot 34-3 in the first period. The Pioneers also won 12 of the 16 faceoffs that period.

The second period was more of the same with the Pioneers adding two more goals and leading 4-0 after the second period. Samantha Brophy was able to block 17 of 19 shots on goal from the Pioneers in the period. The Pioneers again controlled the faceoffs winning 14 of 18 in the second period.

In the third period the Pioneers came out and continued to put pressure on offensively. They scored three more goals and won by a final score of 7-0. Brophy corralled 47 saves on the game with an 87% save rate. Samantha Barrett led the team with seven blocks.

The Cougars will play game two of the two game weekend series against Utica on Saturday November 9th. That game has a scheduled 1 PM puck drop.