The Utica College women's hockey team allowed two goals in the first and third periods en route to a 4-2 ECAC Women's West Conference loss to visiting Neumann University on Tuesday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Jodie Galluzzi and MacKenzie Roy each netted one goal for the Pioneers, while junior Darcy Hier added two assists.
The Pioneers dropped to 8-6-2 overall, while the Knights improved to 8-6-1. Utica remains in fourth place in the conference standings with a 4-4-2 conference record as Neumann gained sole possession of sixth place with a 3-4-1 ledger in ECAC West play.
The Knights jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead in the first ten minutes of the contest behind goals from Khristine Acosta and Jessica Schroeder. Acosta's first goal of the evening came at the 5:49 mark and was assisted by Tanya Lamon, while Jessica Schroeder added the Knights second goal of the game at 9:57. Olivia Pryzbylkowski and Niki Blazenko were each credited with an assist on Schroeder's eighth goal of the season.
Utica dominated the second period but came up with just one goal to cut the Knights' lead to 2-1. Jodie Galluzzi notched the first goal of the game for Utica when she scored midway through the second stanza. Darcy Hier and Lynny Gonzales each tallied an assist on Galluzzi's fourth goal of the year. Utica outshot Neumann 14-10 in the second period.
Acosta added the game-winner 5:34 into the final period of play to lift the Knights. The Pioneers looked to make a comeback after sophomore defender MacKenzie Roy tallied her fourth goal of the year at 18:08. Unfortunately for Utica, Neumann answered right back with the final goal of the contest just 11 seconds later.
Senior goalie Jill Doherty stopped 32 shots in net for Utica while Shannon Donnelly added 36 saves in her sixth win of the season for the Knights.
Utica hits the road this weekend to begin a seven game road trip starting with two games against Buffalo State on Friday and Saturday. Friday night's ECAC West contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Neumann returns home on Friday night to take on Cortland State in a conference game at 7 p.m.
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