UTICA, NY- The Utica College hockey team used one goal in each of the first two periods to down nationally ranked No. 8/9 Oswego State 2-1 in ECAC West Conference action Saturday evening.  This marks the first ranked opponent Utica has beaten this year.
 
The Pioneers, who have now won five of their last six, improve to 8-5 overall and 4-3 in the ECAC West.  Oswego falls to 12-3 (6-2 ECAC West).  UC will hit the road on Tuesday to take on Lebanon Valley (3 p.m.) before a huge series at defending national champion, Plattsburgh State next weekend.
 
Utica got on the board just 2:10 into the first period as sophomore Kaitlin Parent (Myersville, MD/Middletown) netted her first career goal.  Parent followed up on a rebound that was loose in the crease and was able to sneak it past Oswego goalie Mariah Madrigal to put the Pioneers up 1-0.  Sophomores Taylor Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks) and Jennifer Liu (North Saanich, British Columbia/Shaftesbury Titans ) registered assists on the play.
 
The Pioneers took a two-goal lead at 4:35 into the second as sophomore Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) netted her second of the year.  Senior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) came down the left hand side and sent a centering pass to Dohner, who rifled a shot into the upper right hand corner, just under the cross bar.  Sophomore Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) registered the secondary assist on the insurance tally.
 
Oswego finally got on the board with just under two minutes remaining in the second stanza as Victoria Blake found the back of the net for her second of the year.  Alli Ullrich assisted on the power play tally.
 
Despite getting outshot 14-9 in the third period, the Pioneers were able to hold on for the win.  Senior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) finished with 28 saves, while Madrigal finished with 29 for Oswego.