After opening the season on the road, the William Smith College ice hockey team will host its first ever varsity game at The Cooler on Saturday when ECAC West foe Utica comes to Geneva.
 
Saturday's game will be preceded by a pregame ceremony honoring the current team, former William Smith club hockey players and the Heron Society. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. with an on ice ceremony and a ceremonial puck drop. Fans who make the trip to the Cooler will receive free admission along with an inaugural season puck. Herons' nest hats will also be given away to students in attendance.  Faceoff between the Herons and the Pioneers is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
William Smith (0-2-0) dropped both contests with the University of Massachusetts-Boston last weekend. After collecting a goal and an assist in Saturday's game, Lizzy Weingast leads the team with two points. Morgan Bayreuther scored the first goal in program history when she beat the Beacon's goalie in the third period of Friday's game. Hedi Droste has also scored for the Herons. Maggie Salmon and Megan Messuri have each played a game in goal for William Smith.
 
Utica has not played a game yet this season. The Pioneers finished last season in fourth place in the ECAC West with a 17-9-1 overall record. Gabrielle Schnepp is Utica's top returning scorer. She netted 15 goals and 11 assists a year ago.
 
Fans who cannot be in attendance for Saturday's game can follow along with Live Stats and All-Access Video. The game will also be broadcast live on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).