Melissa Lomanto is no stranger to Utica ice hockey, so it’s easy to imagine her leading the women’s ice hockey team. Lomanto is a former player who graduated from Utica University in 2005 and is now head coach for the women’s hockey team, according to Utica University’s website. 

Lomanto will be just the second coach the team has ever had after former head coach Dave Clausen left Utica last month to become the men’s and women’s golf coach at St. Lawrence University.

During the 2015-2016 season, she became the head coach of SUNY Morrisville. Following her departure in mid May 2023, she became an assistant coach for the Pioneers. 

Sophomore forward Sydney Mintz said she and the team were excited about Lomanto taking the helm and her heart is in every role of the women’s ice hockey program. 

“Melissa coming back to coach and taking on a new role after graduating from this program back when she was in college is something really special you don’t see often,” Mintz said. “From the jump, it has been obvious that she has some high expectations for the group and is ready to push us to be a highly competitive kind of hockey team which is super exciting to see and be a part of.”

Over his 24 seasons as the head coach of the Pioneers, Clausen had a 347-214-37 record The team has made back to back UCHC Championship games the last two seasons. While coaching for Utica, Clausen was a two-time ECAC West Coach of the Year and a two-time UCHC Coach of the Year selection.

In an interview with The Tangerine, Clausen said he will cherish his time and that the last 24 years at Utica have been amazing. He also mentioned that the Utica athletics department is filled with hardworking and talented coaches that he will miss collaborating with.

“I cherish all the relationships I developed with the hockey players over the years.  I enjoy the regular text and calls with women’s hockey and golf alumni,” Clausen said. “In my time I had the opportunity to work with so many truly amazing young people.  Watching them grow into amazing adults with careers and families has made me incredibly happy over the years.”

When asked about Lomanto, Clausen had nothing but high praise. 

“Melissa Lomanto is one of those former athletes I’ve remained close with for so many years. She is a tremendously accomplished coach and I think she will do wonders for the program,” Clausen said. “I am thrilled that she can step in and the connections to the original Pioneers will stay in place.  Melissa will be an amazing mentor for the new and returning young women in the program.”

Clausen said he was a Pioneer for life and that he is looking forward to watching the squad play in the stands with a pretzel in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

Utica is looking to maintain the success that they saw last year where they had a 22-4-2 record. Utica had a conference record of 16-2-2 and ultimately finished second in the UCHC only trailing Nazareth University. Utica’s season came to a close with a 2-1 defeat against Nazareth in the UCFC Championship last March. 

After two exhibition games in October, Utica’s season will begin on Friday Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. against Suffolk University at the Utica University Nexus Center.