UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's hockey team defeated ECAC Women's West Conference for Chatham College 9-1 Saturday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Pioneers improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference, while the Cougars dropped to 0-3 in conference and 0-7 overall. The two teams complete the weekend series Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Aud.

UC opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the first period when a Chatham defender misplayed the puck in front of the net and Kelly Bills (Penfield, NY/) knocked it home to give UC a 1-0 lead. Junior defender Amanda McDonnell (Sagamore Beach, MA/) and senior assistant captain Laura Schnitker (Laramie, WY/) were credited with assists on the first goal.

UC took a 2-0 lead 7:15 later when freshman forward Allie Conti (Farmington, NY/) tallied her first collegiate goal on an assist from former all-conference defender Ashley Kaufman (Enfield, CT/). Kaufman, a senior three-sport athlete, nabbed her first goal of the season with 12 seconds remaining in the period when she beat Chatham goalie Sam Hunt (Manitoba, CA) to give UC a 3-0 lead. Schnitker tallied her second assist of the night on Kaufman's goal as junior captain Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) added her second assist of the season.

Senior assistant captain Samantha Rowan (Trenton, MI/) put the Pioneers up 4-0 3:45 into the second period. The goal marked her third of the season and it was assisted by Darcy Hier (Centennial, CO/) and Ann Rancourt (Cleveland, OH/).

Chatham got on the board on a slap shot from the point by freshman defender Christine Durham (West St. Paul/Manitoba, Canada) that was tipped in by Kelsey LaHue (Kennesaw Mountain, GA). LaHue's goal that beat UC sophomore goalie Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill) was the first of her career.

UC then scored three consecutive goals to close out the second period scoring and took a commanding 7-1 lead into the final stanza. Meagan Sudik (West Bend, WI/) netted two of the three goals, while junior transfer Michelle Witz (Pelham, NY/) netted her second goal of the season.

Freshman forward Jodie Galluzzi (Buffalo, NY/National Sports Academy) skated in all alone and beat Chatham reserve goalie Brenn Scott (Parker, CO) on an assist from classmate Tiffany Bichrest (Harpswell, ME/Hebron Academy) to give UC a 8-1 lead with 7:58 left in the game. Galluzzi was named ECAC Women's West Rookie of the Week last week.

Doherty stopped seven shots in 40:00 of work, while her replacement, freshman Laurel Simer (Faribault, MN/Shattuck-St. Marys) stopped two shots.
                      
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