Neumann 3, Utica 2 (OT) - Box Score

Utica, NY (1-29-12) – The Utica College women's hockey team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but visiting Neumann University rallied to knot the score late in the third period, and they went on to net the game-winner in overtime to earn a 3-2 victory in ECAC Women's West Conference action Sunday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Meghan McMahon (Gardner, MA/St. Marks (MA)) and Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) each scored early goals for UC, while sophomore forward Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) recorded an assist on both goals.  Myers currently ranks seventh in the nation with an average of 1.44 points per contest.  Her 17 assists this season is tied for second in all of Division III women's hockey.

The Pioneers (6-10-2) return to the ice Saturday for a weekend double header in Pittsburgh, PA against conference foe Chatham University.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. Saturday evening and 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

UC came out of the gates aggressive and took a 1-0 lead at 7:46 of the first period as McMahon converted a power-play score, set-up by Myers and freshman Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire).  McMahon's goal was her second on the power-play this year and fourth overall. Each squad killed two man-up advantages over the course of the final 12 minutes of the first period, while registering nine shots apiece.

Within the first five minutes of the second period, each team fended off one power-play apiece.  Just .17 seconds after the second power-play ended, at 5:23, UC pushed to a 2-0 lead after junior Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) scored her sixth goal of the year on a breakaway.  Johnson stole the puck and fired a bullet that Neumann goalie Shannon Donnelly could not handle as it deflected off her stick and slid past the goal line.  After 40 minutes of action, Utica held a 16-15 advantage in the shot column, while the teams' were whistled on five penalties each.

The Knight's began their valiant comeback at the 8:05 mark of the third period when Angela Gilmour scored her second goal of the year. Dru Austin and Kelsey Waller were each credited with an assist on Neumann's first of three consecutive goals. 

Following coincidental unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the Knight's were able to pull Donnelly and they released an extra attacker into their offensive zone at 18:20.  Just 18 seconds into the empty-net advantage, Neumann netted the equalizer.  Kayla Dubowski scored her second goal in as many nights after an assist from Brittany Metcalfe to send the contest into extra time. 

It took just 44 seconds for the Knights to earn their fourth straight win as Angela Gilmour converted on the game-winner past UC goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School).  Nicole Alexopoulos and Jennie Greenlee each garnered an assist on the OT goal. 

Hamel posted 23 saves in net for the Pioneers, while Donnelly registered 23 stops between the pipes for Neumann (6-9-2). 

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