UTICA, NY – Seventh-year head coach Dave Clausen earned his 100th career victory as the Utica College women's hockey team defeated nationally-ranked No. 7 Elmira College 3-2 Sunday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Pioneers improved to 11-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play, while the Soaring Eagles dropped to 13-4 overall and 8-2 in the league. The win marks the third time Clausen and the Pioneers have beaten the Soaring Eagles in 19 previous meetings.

Elmira entered the contest with momentum after a 5-0 shut out victory over UC on Saturday night. Junior forward Jamie Huntley (LaJolla, CA/California Selects) led the way for the Soaring Eagles with a hat-trick on Saturday night and junior net minder Allison Cubberly (Bracebridge, ONT/Clearview Stars) stopped 27 shots to earn her third shut out victory of the season.

A late charge by the Soaring Eagles on Sunday was haulted by the Pioneer defense and a potential Elmira goal was whistled off by the referee after a skirmish in front of the net led to the puck sliding into the back of the net. The goal was disallowed because the referee had whistled the play dead prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

After a scoreless first period, the Pioneers found the back of the net 2:50 into the second stanza when Krystal Cummings (Victor, NY/) set up freshman Jodie Galluzzi (Buffalo, NY/National Sports Academy) for her seventh goal of the season. Galluzzi's seven goals this year leads all Pioneer freshman. Freshman forward Darcy Hier (Centennial, CO/) was also credited with an assist on the goal that gave UC a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers took a commanding 2-0 lead at the 13:00 mark of the second period when freshman forward Lynny Gonzales (Rochester, NY/New Hampton Prep) beat Elmira goalie Cara McGurry (Winnipeg, MB/St. John's Ravencourt), a senior captain, lower right side on a beautiful lead pass from junior assistant captain Samantha Rowan (Trenton, MI/). For Gonzales, the goal marked the first of her collegiate career and former all-conference defender Ashley Kaufman (Enfield, CT/) was also credited with her sixth assist of the year.

UC added the eventual game-winning goal 27 seconds into the third period when junior captain Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) sent in a wrist shot from just inside the blue line that was tipped in by freshman forward Samantha Glocking. Glockling's fourth goal of the season was also assisted by sophomore forward Andrea Maxon (Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams), who has tallied a team-high 18 points this season.

The Soaring Eagles cut the lead to 3-1 just over four minutes into the final period, when junior forward Catherine Shears (Cornerbrook, NL/Appleby College) scored her fourth goal of the season on a five-on-three power-play opportunity. Shears' one-timer, slap shot goal beat UC freshman goalie Kelley Peers (Grosse Point, MI/) glove side and it was assisted team leading scorer Kayla Coady (Charlottetown, PEI/Berkshire School) and sophomore defender Tiffany Hart (Perth, ONT/Perth Jr. Wings).

Elmira found themselves with-in one goal of the Pioneers after sophomore forward Karen Colehour (Schenectady, NY/Albany Ice Cats) netted her sixth goal of the season on an assist from Shears and sophomore forward Jenna McCall (Thamesford, ONT/Bluewater Hawks).

Peers stopped 30 shots on the day and earned her fifth win of the season, while her counterpart, McGurry made 24 saves for the Soaring Eagles.

The Pioneers hit the road next weekend for a two-game weekend set against conference foe RIT. The puck if scheduled to drop at 3 p.m. for Saturday's contest. Elmira will host Neumann College for two games next Friday and Saturday at the Murray Athletic Center.

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