Box Score

Utica, NY (10/21/12)- The Utica College women's hockey team wrapped up its exhibition play with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Toronto Aeros on Sunday.  Junior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) scored the game-winner with 11 seconds left in the extra frame to propel the Pioneers to victory.

Toronto opened the scoring seven minutes into the second period as Jessica Eldridge scored assisted by Haley Flynn.  Flynn and Eldridge came down on a two-on-one, Flynn slid the puck to Eldridge who roofed a shot over Utica goalie Gabrielle Abbott (Scottsdale, AZ/St. Marks)'s shoulder to put the Aeros up 1-0.

Toronto's lead was short lived as less than two minutes later, junior Brittany DelleChiaie (Leominster, MA/The Winchendon School) scored on the power play to even the score.  Myers won a clean draw back to sophomore Samantha Pucci (Pearl River, NY/Connecticut Polar Bears).  Pucci passed across the blue line to classmate Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire) who put a shot on net.  DelleChiaie redirected it then picked up a rebound and put it into the net. 

Despite trading scoring chances, including each team getting a five-on-three power play, the score remained knotted at one at the end of regulation.

The Pioneers killed off a penalty in the first minute of overtime to allow Myers to get the game-winner.  After a shot from the point got deflected in front of the net, senior Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) was able to get a shot on net.  Toronto goalie Ally Sarna was able to get a pad on it, but Myers was there to put the rebound into the open net.  DelleChiaie also assisted on the play.

Utica goalies Marissa McNamara (Camillus, NY/Lysander Lightning) (four saves), Gabrielle Abbott (Scottsdale, AZ/St. Marks) (eight saves), and Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) (15 saves) each played a period in net, while Hamel also played in the overtime period.  Sarna made 18 stops in net for the Aeros.

The Pioneers open up regular season play on Friday, Nov. 2 as they host Oswego State for an ECAC West game.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.


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