UTICA, NY – The nationally- ranked No. 9 and fourth-seeded Utica College women's hockey team defeated visiting and fifth-seeded Neumann College 3-1 Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in the first round of the ECAC Women's West Conference Tournament.

This marked the first time the Pioneers hosted a conference tournament game in program-history. Headed into the contest the Pioneers owned a 2-0 season series advantage after beating Neumann twice by a combined score of 11-1 in the final regular season weekend series for the Pioneers. UC now owns a 16-1-2 all-time series advantage over the Knights.

With the win, the Pioneers improved to 18-8 overall, while the Knights end their season with a 9-14-3 record overall. The semi-final match-up set for Mar. 8 at Plattsburgh is to be determined depending on the outcome of the other first round game hosted by third-seeded Elmira College against sixth-seeded Buffalo State at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The highest remaining seed will take on second-seeded RIT at Plattsburgh next Saturday, while the lowest remaining seed squares off against host Plattsburgh.

Neumann got on the board first when freshman forward Nicki Blazenzo (Burlington Baracudas/Burlington, ONT) sent in a wrist shot that was knocked down by the blocker of UC sophomore goalie Jill Doherty (Wellesley, MA/Kents Hill). Balzenko collected the rebound and beat Doherty top left corner to give the Knights a 1-0 lead at the 7:51 mark of the first period. Blazenko's sixth goal of the season was assisted by senior forward Carolyn Fauteux (Markham-Stouffville Stars/Aurora, ONT), marking her twentieth point of the season.

UC tied the game up at 1-1 six minutes into the second period after Kristina Reeves (Pascoag, RI/Kents Hill) ripped a wrist shot on net, saved by Neumann freshman goalie Mel Brunet (Sudbury Wolves/Sudbury, ONT), and junior transfer Michelle Witz (Pelham, NY/) rebounded home her eighth goal of the season. Reeves and junior captain Jessica Leclerc (Augusta, ME/) were credited with their second and thirteenth assists of the season, respectively.

Just over two minutes later former ECAC Women's West All-Rookie team selection Andrea Maxon (Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams) worked for the puck in front of the net and then muscled home a backhander top left corner. The unassisted goal marked her 13th of the season and team-high 28th point of the year.

The Pioneers skated into the second intermission with a one goal lead and a commanding 31-14 shot advantage.

After 19:36 of scoreless action in the third period the Knights decided to pull the goalie to gain the one-skater advantage. The plan backfired and UC senior defender Ashley Kaufman (Enfield, CT/) stole the puck at center ice and guided home an empty net goal with 14 seconds left to ensure the victory. The unassisted goal was Kaufman's second of the season.

Doherty stopped 18 shots in her ninth win of the season for UC, while her counterpart, Brunet stopped 46 shots in net for the Knights and earned second star honors.

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