Utica 3, Buffalo State 1 - Box Score

UTICA, NY -- Sophomore forward Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) netted two goals, including the eventual game-winner, in the final 4:57 of play to help the Utica College women's hockey team rally from a 1-0 third period deficit as the Pioneers defeated visiting Buffalo State 3-1 in ECAC Women's West Conference play Friday night.  Senior defender MacKenzie Roy (Concord, NH/Cushing Academy) registered three assists on Senior Night to help pace the Pioneers in the come-from-behind victory over the Bengals.

The Pioneers (9-12-3, 6-9-2 ECAC West) now need a win on Saturday afternoon against Buffalo State, and they also need Chatham to earn at least a win and a tie against Neumann on Saturday and Sunday, for Utica to advance to its 11th consecutive ECAC Women's West Conference Tournament.  The visiting Bengals dropped to 7-15-2 overall and 4-12-1 in conference play this season.

Both teams traded scoring chances but could not find the back of the net as the first period ended in a 0-0 stalemate.  The Pioneers held a slight 8-7 advantage in shots and had two power play opportunities, while the Bengals had one. 

The second period saw more back and forth action.  UC seemed to be gaining momentum; however it was Buffalo State that broke the scoreless tie 7:18 into the second period when Rio Flynn netted her second goal of the season. Teammate Emily Cornett skated down the ice and took a shot from the right faceoff circle, Utica goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) got her left pad on it, but the rebound came right to Flynn who put the puck in the open net.  The score remained 1-0 heading into the second intermission. 

Freshman forward Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) was able to knot the score at 1-1 with less than eight minutes to play after she dove for a loose puck in the crease and knocked it home.  The loose puck came after a slap shot by Roy from the point was fended off by Buffalo State goalie Jordan Lee.  Freshman Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School), who finished the night with two assists, made the initial crossing pass to Roy to earn the second assist. 

Myers, who leads UC with 34 points this season, took over late in the contest, beginning with her first goal of the evening at the 15:03 mark.  Myers' wrapped around the back of the net and knocked the eventual game-winner off Lee's left pad from a tough angle to give the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage. 

After Buffalo State pulled it's goalie with under a minute to play, Myers was able to steal the puck on the opposite blue line and made a couple of strides before firing an insurance goal into the back of the empty net at 19:18.

Hamel stopped 27 shots in the victory for Utica, while Lee made 35 saves for the Bengals as the Pioneers outshot the visitors 38-38. 

Both teams will close out regular season play when they return to the Aud Saturday afternoon for a 3 p.m. faceoff. 

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