UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's hockey team capped off their regular season with an 11-5 victory over Oswego State Sunday afternoon in ECAC West action at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The win was the second in as many days against the Lakers and gives the Pioneers a six game win streak going into the playoffs next weekend.
The two teams scored four goals apiece and combined for five penalties and 40 shots on goal in the first period alone. Oswego jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 3:52 into the game when Kendra Lemire (Warner Prep/Falher, Alberta) scored on a breakaway goal as she received the puck while entering the ice after serving a roughing penalty. The Pioneers answered only 21 seconds later when
Mandy Finkle (Milford, MI/) tied the game when she put in a rebound from in front of the net.
At the 8:07 mark, Oswego took a 2-1 lead when Jessica Lister (Neumann College/Aurora, ONT) scored an unassisted goal after streaking down the right side past the Pioneer defense.
Andrea Maxon (Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams) would answer at the 13:20 mark to even the score up at 2-2 when she back-handed a shot into the net after breaking down the left side.
Oswego would collect two goals in a 13 second span at the 13:20 and 13:33 mark when Jessica Lister tallied her second goal of the period followed by a goal from Mackenzie May (Camillus Cougars/Syracuse), bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of the Lakers. The Pioneers again answered back when
Samantha Rowan (Trenton, MI/) scored twice in less than a minute on a power play and a short-handed goal, tying the score at 4-4 to cap off a wild first period.
In the second period, the Pioneers scored four unanswered goals. Rowan scored the first goal of the period just under four minutes in to complete her hat trick and
Ashley Kaufman (Enfield, CT/) scored off a rebound with a two-player advantage at the 7:05 mark. Later in the period,
Stephanie Price (River Rouge, MI/) scored on a breakaway goal down the right side at the 11:24 mark while Maxon scored her second goal of the game just 35 seconds later off a rebound by Price to round out the Pioneers' second period scoring.
Down 8-4, the Lakers would score just over seven minutes into the third period when Jessica O'Grady (Perth Jr. Wings/Nepean, ONT) backhanded a goal for the Lakers' final goal of the game. The Lakers failed to convert on all five power play opportunities in the game.
In the third period, the Pioneers would get goals from Finkle, her second of the game, and
Katie Moss (Rochester, NY/), who were both playing in their final game at The Aud.
Laura Schnitker (Laramie, WY/) also scored at the 12:34 mark in the third period.
Jessica Lister and O'Grady each also tallied an assist for the Lakers, who wrapped up their regular season with a record of 7-12-3 overall and 2-9-3 in the ECAC West.
Price had four assists,
Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) had three assists,
Deanna Wiegand (Utica, MI/),
Courtney Bank (Saginaw, MI/),
Krystal Cummings (Victor, NY/),
Amanda McDonnell (Sagamore Beach, MA/), and
Katie Moss (Rochester, NY/) each had two assists, while Schnitker and Rowan each had one assist on the afternoon for the Pioneers.
Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill) was awarded the win in goal for the Pioneers with 10 saves while only allowing one goal in 46:20 between the pipes. Hilary Hitchman (North Country Ice Storm/Potsdam) and Erin Robinson (Coldwater Wildcats/Orillia, ONT) combined for 64 saves for Oswego State.
With the win, the Pioneers finish the regular season with a record of 18-4-3 overall and 10-2-2 in the ECAC West conference. They will travel to Plattsburgh this weekend for the opening round of the ECAC West Playoffs. Time, date and opponent are yet to be determined.
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