UTICA, NY - The nationally-ranked No. 10 Utica College women's hockey team defeated visiting Neumann College 4-0 in ECAC Women's West action Saturday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Three first period goals and stellar play in net by sophomore goalie Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill) led the Pioneers to a key conference victory.

With the win, UC is now 16-8 overall and 11-4 in conference play, while the Knights drop to 9-10-3 overall and 6-6-1 in league play. The Pioneers now own a 16-1-2 all-time series advantage over the Knights.

UC dominated first period play out-shooting the Knights 20-2 and in route to netting three goals. Senior forward Kelly Bills (Penfield, NY/) opened the scoring for UC when she knocked home a rebound, her seventh goal of the season, 7:40 into the opening period. Sophomore forward and former ECAC Women's West All-Rookie team selection Andrea Maxon (Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams) and junior captain Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) were credited with assists on game's opening tally.

Lynny Gonzales (Rochester, NY/New Hampton Prep) skated in on the right side of Neumann goalie Mel Brunet and beat her short side top shelf. Gonzales's fifth goal of the season, assisted by Leclerc, gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead at 15:52 of the first period.

Junior assistant captain Samantha Rowan (Trenton, MI/) netted her team-high 13th goal of the season with 28 seconds left in the first period. She used her speed to create an open ice fast break, skated in on the left, made a move to the right, and beat Brunet top shelf to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead headed into the first intermission.

Krystal Cummings (Victor, NY/) added a highlight reel insurance goal 11:59 into the second stanza to close out the scoring on the day. Cummings received a long pass at mid-ice from Leclerc, skated in with a defender trailing, made a move to the right and flicked the puck top shelf as she was falling down to give UC the 4-0 lead.

Doherty stopped all 17 shots and earned her third shut out of the season, while her counterpart, Mel Brunet, made 36 saves in net for the Knights.

The Pioneers wrap up the weekend double-header Saturday night at the Aud against Neumann College. The Pioneers final game of the regular season is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

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