Box Score Middlebury, VT (2/4/14)- The Utica College women's hockey team let two different two-goal leads slip away as nationally ranked No. 2 Middlebury College defeated the Pioneers 5-4 Tuesday night at Middlebury's Kenyon Arena. Utica outshot the host team 35-30 on the evening, including holding a 22-5 ledger in the final frame, however, it was not enough as the Panthers won their 14th game of the season.

The Pioneers opened the scoring at 11:08 of the first period as senior Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects) netted her team-leading 15th goal of the season, assisted by junior Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) and freshman Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers). Just two minutes later Utica added another tally, as this time it was Myers who fed Coope for Utica's second score. Senior Kristen Beckman (Arnold, MD/Northwood School) also assisted on the play. The Panthers were able to cut the lead in half just 30 seconds later as Jennifer Krakower tallied her fifth of the year, assisted by Carly Watson and Sara Ugalde.

Utica regained the two-goal margin at 9:01 as senior Meredith Tice (Hershey, PA/Washington Pride) found the back of the net for her first of the year. Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Boston Jr. Shamrocks) and Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) each assisted on Tice's power play tally. Once again Middlebury countered less than a minute later as Krakower put in her second of the game to bring the Panthers within one. With 50 seconds remaining in the second period, Middlebury scored the equalizer off the stick of Pam Shulman. Katie Mandigo assisted on Shulman's fifth of the season.

The Panthers took their first lead of the game at 13:58 as Emily Fluke snuck one past Utica goalie Jennifer Hamel (Ithaca, NY/Northwood School). Just over two minutes later Fluke scored her second of the game and 11th of the season to put Middlebury up 5-3. The Pioneers were not down, as Schnepp brought Utica within one, just 16 seconds later, with her tenth goal, off assists from Maines and Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean). It was not enough, however, as the Panthers were able to hold on for the victory.

Hamel had 25 saves in the loss, while her counterpart, Laura Pinsent made 31 saves for the Panthers. Carly Watson was Middlebury's best performer, finishing with four assists on the day. Utica moves to 13-6 on the year, with all six losses coming to teams ranked No. 4 or higher. The Pioneers return to action this weekend for an ECAC West match up with conference rival, Neumann University. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.