The Utica College women's ice hockey team lost at ECAC Women's West rival RIT 5-3 after allowing two late goals in the third period Saturday. Junior Tiffany Bichrest (Hebron Academy/Harpswell, ME) netted two goals for the Pioneers and had an assist, while Senior goalie Jill Doherty recorded 30 saves for the Pioneers.

RIT opened the scoring off 8:56 in to the first period as Megan Kobar netted a goal off assists from Melissa Hall and Danielle Read. The Tigers extended their lead 12:19 into the first period as Kayla Ross scored off assists from Jamie Parhar and Sarah Dagg. The Pioneers would cut the RIT lead in half with five seconds remaining in the period when Lynny Gonzales (New Hampton Prep/Rochester) and Darcy Hier (Colorado Selects/Aurora,CO) set up Tiffany Bichrest for her first goal of the game.

The Pioneers momentum would carry into the second period as Tiffany Bichrest scored her second goal of the afternoon off assists from MacKenzie Roy (Cushing Academy/Concord, NH) and Darcy Hier 32 seconds in. RIT would regain the lead 17:49 into the second period after Katie Stack scored a power play goal off assists from Danielle Read and Sarah Dagg.

The third period would see Utica College tie the game up at three when Lynny Gonzales scored a goal off an assist from Tiffany Bichrest 3:52 into the period. The Utica College defense would struggle to stop the Tigers from scoring the rest of the way as RIT's Katie Stack scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Shireen Irani 8:38 into the third. The Tigers would add an insurace goal 13:34 into the third as Katie Stack scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Kayla Ross.

The Pioneers fall to 9-9-2 on the season while the Tigers improve to 11-4-3, good for third in the ECAC Womens West Conference. The two will play the second part of a back to back tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena.

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