Utica 2, Elmira 1 Box Score

Elmira, NY - The Utica College women's ice hockey team upset host and third-seeded Elmira College, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in the first round of the ECAC Women's West Conference Tournament. Freshman all-conference selection Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) netted both of the Pioneers' goals, while junior goalie Marissa Hotaling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) stopped a career-high 52 shots to help UC advance past the nation's ninth ranked team.

The Pioneers (13-13 overall) advance to the semi-finals of the conference tournament and they will travel to nationally-ranked No. 2 RIT on March 5th at 3 p.m. The Soaring Eagles conclude their 2010-2011 season with an overall record of 16-8-2.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead with just over one minute remaining in the first period when Myers tallied her team-high 20th goal of the season, unassisted, at 18:44. Utica was out-shot 20-13 in the first period.

In the second period, Utica was penalized for hooking, however, was able to kill it, ending the power-play at 9:01. Shortly thereafter, at 10:28, Elmira was called for an interference penalty and on UC's second power-play they would register three shots but could not covert. 1:20 later, the Soaring Eagles picked up their third penalty (tripping) and were able to fend off Utica on the man-down situation. EC fired five shots in the last four minutes in an attempt to tie the game, but were unsuccessful.

After two periods of play, the Pioneers had a 1-0 advantage, despite being outshot 32-21 and losing 29-of-40 face-offs to the host. Seniors #Darcy Hier (Centennial, CO/)#, #Samantha Glockling (Carleton Place, Ontario/Tilton School)# and #Lynny Gonzales (Rochester, NY/New Hampton Prep)# each had three shots for UC, headed into the final period.

Myers would connect again, at 1:54 in the third, to give Utica a 2-0 advantage. Elmira pulled within one goal of the lead, at 8:21, when Kelsey Evershed hooked up with Madison Johnston for her fourth goal of the season. UC was charged with the first penalty of the third period, at 15:34, after a cross-check, giving Elmira its fourth power-play opportunity of the contest. However, the Pioneers would hold off EC and advance to the second round of the conference tournament