WORCESTER, MA- The Utica College women's hockey team skated to a 4-2 win in its season opener Saturday night as the Pioneers downed host Becker College in non-conference action.
 
The Pioneers opened the scoring at 8:14 as junior Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) put in a feed from sophomore Katrina Cornick (Mason City, IA/Rocky Mountain Roughriders).  UC extended its lead just 1:17 later as sophomore Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) scored her first of the year, assisted by freshmen Lindsey Winter (Minneapolis, MN/Armstrong Cooper) and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School).
 
The Hawks finally got on the board as they capitalized on a power play opportunity at 14:54 of the first as Rachel Pitcher put in an assist by Clare Conway.
 
Brown regained the two-goal lead at 12:55 of the second when she put in her second of the day.  Senior Colby Begis (Little Elm, TX/Dallas Stars) assisted on the insurance tally.
 
Cornick gave UC a three score lead halfway through the third period as she netted a goal of her own. Senior Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall) assisted on the play.
 
Becker got one back with just over a minute to play, but the Utica defense held strong to pick up the win.
 
Utica was 1-for-4 on the power play, while Becker was 1-for-6.  Sophomore Ryann Stripp (Holland Patent, NY/Clinton Warriors) made 17 saves to earn the win in net, while her counterpart, Madison Rigsby had 35 saves in the loss.
 
The Pioneers return to action Sunday as they travel to New Englad College.  Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.