BUFFALO, NY – The nationally ranked No. 9 Utica College women's hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision in its ECAC Women's West Conference season opener at Buffalo State Friday night.  The Pioneers outshot the Bengals 21-17 in the contest, but the home team took an early 1-0 lead, and added the game-winner with 1:39 left in the second period to earn the key conference victory. 
 
Utica will look to rebound on Saturday as it wraps up the series against Buff State.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. UC drops to 0-1 on the year, while the Bengals improve to 2-0-1. 
 
Buff State opened the scoring at 3:37 of the first as Erin Gehen put in a rebound for her third of the year.  Brooke Krantz and Christine Harris assisted on the play. 
 
The Pioneers responded just over four minutes later as junior Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats) tipped in a point shot from Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) for her first of the season. Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy) added the secondary assist on the power play tally. 
 
The Bengals netted the game-winner, also on the power play, in the closing minutes of the second stanza off the stick of Rachel Lenard.  Krantz, and Viivi Vaattovaara.
 
Senior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 15 saves for Utica, while her counterpart, Justine Silva made 20 saves in the win.  Each team with 1-for-6 with the man advantage.