Box Score

Hamilton 3, Utica 1 - Women's Hockey Final

Utica, NY (12/8/12)- The Utica College women's ice hockey team dropped a heartbreaker, 3-1, against cross-town rival, Hamilton College Saturday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  Sophomore Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) netted the lone UC goal, while senior Meghan McMahon (Gardner, MA/St. Marks (MA)) and junior Caitlyn Moccaldi (Clinton, NY/Clinton High School Boys) had the assists on the tally. 

Utica came out flying to start the game as it controlled play in the Hamilton zone for the first three minutes of the contest.  However, it was Hamilton that struck first as Katie Zimmerman put in her team-leading tenth goal of the season.  Zimmerman capitalized on a UC turnover in the defensive zone and went in alone.  She was able to backhand a shot off the post and in to lift the Continentals to a 1-0 lead.

The second period was more of the same, as Utica had a number of scoring chances, but could not cash in.  Hamilton was able to convert on its fourth power play of the game as Zimmerman netted her second goal of the night with less than 30 seconds to play in the second stanza.  Nikki Haskins and Naomi Woolfenden assisted on the play.

Utica was able to cut the lead in half as Steele-Norton scored her first tally of the season halfway through the period.  Moccaldi collected a puck in the defensive zone and hit McMahon streaking through the neutral zone.  McMahon was able to pull the defender and slid a pass to Steele-Norton who fired a shot inside the left post to get the Pioneers on the board.  The goal came just moments after senior net minder Marissa Hotaling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) made a great glove save on Zimmerman to keep Utica in the game. 

The final ten minutes were exciting as both teams traded chances.  Utica was able to control play in the Hamilton zone late in the game in order to pull Hotaling and get an extra attacker on the ice.  Despite a number of UC scoring chances in the final minute, the Continentals were able to get their third tally of the game to end hopes of a Utica comeback.  Zimmerman was able to get the puck out of the zone and sent a pass to Haskins who shot into the open net to seal the victory.

The Continentals improve to 6-2 overall, while Utica drops to 4-4.  Hotaling had 20 saves on the day, while Hamilton's Rebecca Hazlett had 27 saves for her fifth win of the season.

UC returns to action Sunday as it hosts Amherst College for the last game before the winter break.  Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m.  Hamilton will enjoy four weeks off before traveling to Elmira College on Saturday, Jan. 5.  Game time is 7 p.m.


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