Utica 9, Buffalo State 0 - Box Score

Utica, NY (2-18-12) – The Utica College women's hockey team concluded its regular season with a convincing 9-0 shutout victory over ECAC West rival Buffalo State Saturday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Pioneers were led by sophomore Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Boston Jr. Shamrocks), who posted her first career hat-trick, including back-to-back goals to open up the third period.

The Pioneers wrapped up their 2011-12 campaign with an overall record of 10-12-3 including conference mark of 7-9-2.  The Bengals concluded their season with a 7-16-2 overall ledger and a 4-13-1 record in conference play.

After 17 minutes of scoreless play in the first period, UC got on the board as Maines drilled in a rebound off a freshman Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) shot.  Dowdall and sophomore Brittany DelleChiaie (Leominster, MA/The Winchendon School) were awarded assists as Utica took a 1-0 lead into the locker room after 20 minutes of action. The visitors killed a 5-on-3 power-play midway through the period and they were outshot 15-5 by UC.

The Pioneers came out of intermission and quickly jumped to a 3-0 lead as UC leading scorer Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) rattled off two quick even-strength goals, less than two minutes apart, at .29 and 2:33. Sophomore Caitlyn Moccaldi (Clinton, NY/Clinton High School Boys) and junior Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, VA/Washington Pride) tallied assists on Utica's second score, while sophomore Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School) posted the lone dish on the third goal.  Utica continued its aggressive momentum as the offense posted three more scores before the buzzer.  Junior Lindsey Norton netted her first collegiate goal, on the power-play, at 12:24, giving the Pioneers a 4-0 lead.  Junior Meghan Willet recorded her second goal of the season, at 13:30, followed by a Beckman score at 17:07, both even-strength, to push Utica's lead to 6-0.  UC racked up a 24-3 shot advantage in second period and held a 39-9 ledger overall headed into the final 20 minutes. 

Maines converted her second goal of the afternoon on a man-up advantage at 6:22 and followed up just under three minutes later, at 9:01, to capture the hat-trick and give UC an 8-0 lead.  Freshman Courtney May (Oxford, MI/Belle Tire) tallied her third goal of the season at 11:22, even-strength, as Utica closed out the convincing 9-0 victory.

Myers totaled an impressive six points on two scores and four assists while Dowdall and Johnson each registered three dishes in the win.

Senior goaltender Marissa Hotaling (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) recorded 15 saves in her second shutout of the season to end the year 3-5 overall. Buff State net minder Jordan Lee stopped 30 shots before being relieved by Jess Garland who finished with 34.