Box Score BOX SCORE

The Utica College women's hockey team lost 4-1 against nationally-ranked No. 3 RIT in ECAC Women's West Conference play at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers played the visiting Tigers even in the first and third periods but RIT posted three second period goals to earn its second victory in as many days. 

RIT improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while Utica lost its second straight and dropped to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the ECAC West. 

The Pioneers skated to a 1-1 tie in the first period but the Tigers proved to me too much as the game progressed.

The visiting Tigers, who won the first game of the weekend series 5-2 Saturday, opened the scoring on the afternoon when freshman forward Erin Zach netted a power-play goal four minutes into the contest. Kourtney Kunichilka and Katie Stack each record an assist on the games' opening goal.

Utica freshman standout Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) added her second goal in as many nights to knot the score at 1-1 5:31 later off assists by seniors Tiffany Bichrest (Harpswell, ME/Hebron Academy) and Lynny Gonzales (Rochester, NY/New Hampton Prep).

RIT came out in the second peirod and tallied three goals to seal the victory. Freshman defender Liz Gemmitti netted her first collegiate goal just under three minutes into the second stanza. Kunichilka added her second assist of the night, while Kristina Moss also added a helper. The Tigers would tally two more goals in a span of 1:17 midway through the second to take a 4-1 lead.

Both teams were held scoreless in the final 20 minutes as the game ended with the Tigers on top by three. 

Freshman goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) made 37 saves in net for Utica, while freshman Laura Chamberland made 12 stops for RIT.

The Tigers went 1-for-7 on the power-play compared to the hosts 0-for-6 performance with a one skater advantage. 

The Pioneers return to the ice next Friday when they travel to host Oswego for a conference contest at the Campus Center Ice Arena. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.

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