Utica 4, Potsdam 2 Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (1/29/2011) – Freshman forward Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) netted a natural hat-trick in the first period as the Utica College women's hockey team defeated visiting Potsdam State 4-2 in an ECAC Women's West Conference match up at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers, who have made nine straight appearence in the conference tournament, have now won three in a row and improved to 10-6 overall and 6-5 in ECAC West play. The Bears dropped to 7-11-1 overall and 3-9 in conference play.

Myers's three first period goals came in the first 10:28 of the contest to put the Pioneers on top 3-1 midway through the first. Rebecca Heim (Westwood, NJ/New Jersey Rockets) and Darcy Hier (Centennial, CO/Colorado Selects) assisted on Myers' first goal, Meredith Tice (Hershey, PA/Washington Pride) was credited with an assist on the Pioneers' second goal and Ann Rancourt (Cleveland, OH/Ohio Phantom Flames) and Hier assisted on the third and final goal of the period.

Breanna Roy scored the first goal of the contest for the visitors at the 6:45 mark to knot the score at 1-1 early on. The Pioneers answered with two straight before the Bears tacked on one more goal with just under seven minutes to go in the first period.

The second period turned into a battle of the goalies and both squads were held scoreless through all 20 minutes of the second stanza.

UC's Meghan Willet added an insurance goal, her first of the year, to seal the victory for the Pioneers just 5:03 into the third period of play. Senior Tiffany Bichrest (Harpswell, ME/Hebron Academy) assisted on Utica's final goal of the game.

Hier finished the day with two assists for the Pioneers and she now has a team-high 21 this season.  Myers' now has 12 goals on the season to lead Utica. 

Junior goalie Marissa Hotaling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) stopped 26 shots in her fifth victory of the season for Utica. Jen Conophy made 30 saves in net for the Bears.

The Pioneers will hit the road tomorrow morning and travel to Potsdam for game two of the home and home weekend. The contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

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