Box Score Utica, NY (1/25/14)- The nationally ranked No. 10 Utica College women's hockey team fell to No. 1 Plattsburgh State Saturday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Senior Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School) had 31 saves in net for the Pioneers.

Plattsburgh moves is record to an impressive 16-0-1 and sits at the top of the ECAC West Conference with a 9-0 mark in league play. The Cardinals have now allowed just four goals total in 17 games this season and have shutout opponents 13 times.

After a scoreless first period, the visitors were able to break the deadlock at 7:38 of the second period as Jordan Caldwell netted her eighth of the year, on the power play. Jenny Kistner assisted on the tally. The Cardinals scored again just 53 seconds into the third period to all but seal the victory. Ali Vakos netted her seventh of the season, assisted by Chelsea Van Glahn.

The Pioneers continued to pressure, but were unable to find the back of the net. Utica's best scoring chance of the weekend came halfway through the third period as Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) put a low shot on net. The rebound popped right to Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School) who had a seemingly open net, but Cardinal goalie Sydney Aveson made a sprawling save to preserve the shutout.

Aveson finished the game with 26 saves to move her record to 12-0-1 this season. Plattsburgh returns to action next Saturday as it takes on SUNY Potsdam at 7 p.m. The Pioneers (11-5, 6-4 ECAC West) take the ice again next weekend for a home-and-home series against SUNY Cortland. Friday night the teams will face off at Cortland's Alumni Ice Arena at 7 p.m. before both teams head to Utica for the weekend wrap up Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Aud.


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