Utica 7, Cortland State 2 - Box Score

Utica, NY (12-3-11) - The Pioneers move up in the ECAC Women's West Conference with a convincing, 7-2, road win over SUNY Cortland Saturday night.  Freshman Nicole Kieffer (Rome, NY/Lysander Lightning) led UC with four points including her first collegiate goal.

The Pioneers move their overall record to 5-6 while improving to 2-5 in conference play.  The Red Dragons drop to 2-4-1 on the season and remain winless in ECAC West action at 0-4-1.  UC returns to the ice next Saturday when they host Cortland at the Utica Memorial Auditorium for a 4 p.m. scheduled puck drop.

UC converted two power-plays, less than a minute a part, late in the first period to take 2-0 lead.  Freshman Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire) tallied her first goal of the season at 18:23 off feeds from junior Meghan McMahon (Gardner, MA/St. Marks (MA)) and sophomore Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects). Only .50 seconds later, at 19:17, the Pioneers took a two goal advantage as junior Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) netted her fourth goal of the season set-up by Kieffer and sophomoe Brittany DelleChiaie (Leominster, MA/The Winchendon School).  Utica was penalized twice at the close of the first period to give the home team a man-up advantage headed into the locker room.

The Pioneers killed both power-plays early in the second, however were not so fortunate the next time as a senior MacKenzie Roy (Concord, NH/Cushing Academy) tripping call at 5:26 resulted in a Cortland score at 5:36.  Just .30 seconds later, at 6:06,  the Red Dragons knotted up the contest when Chelsie Hausberger found the back of the net for her second season goal, even-strength, unassisted. UC regained the lead at 13:08 when DelleChiaie put home the eventual game-winner for her fifth goal of the season.  Johnson and sophomore Meredith Tice (Hershey, PA/Washington Pride) recorded dishes to give Utica a 3-2 edge.  Kieffer posted her first collegiate goal with .34 seconds remaining in the second to give UC a 4-2 cushion on a pass from freshman Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean), at 19:26.

The Pioneers racked up three third period scores to seal the victory as sophomore Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School), Roy, and freshman Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire) each bolstered goals to move UC up in the conference standings.

Sophomore goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) improved to 4-3 on the season as she recorded 25 saves, including 13 in the final 20 minutes of play.