UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's hockey team fell into an early 2-0 hole and could not complete the comeback in a 2-1 loss to visiting Manhattanville College in United Collegiate Hockey Conference action on Tuesday night. 

Utica's record fell to 9-3 overall and the Pioneers suffered their first UCHC loss of the season.  Manhattanville remains red hot and improved to 9-2-2 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play. 

The two teams complete the rare weekday doubleheader on Wednesday when the Pioneers host the Valiants at 2 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center. 

Janet Xu got the visitors on the board with her third goal of the season with less than two minutes to go in the first period of play.  Nicole Mensi and Zoey Pellowitz each posted an assist on the game's first goal. 

Manhattanville worked a 2-0 lead midway through the second period when Mensi found the back of the net for her tenth goal of the season, assisted by Morgan Wilm and Erica Sandilands. Mensi's game-winner came short-handed. 

Utica freshman Maddie Paydos (Simsbury, CT/Vermont Academy) put the Pioneers on the board with her third goal of the year when she put home a one-timer 3:45 into the final period on the far side after a great slip pass in front of the net by Nicole Johnson (North Easton, MA/Holderness).  Caley Susitti (Hartland, WI/Milwaukee Jr. Admirals) was also credited with an assist on the goal. 

UC made a hard third period push but could not seem to find the back of the net in the final 16 minutes of action. 

The Pioneers dominated the shot category 33-19, but they were unable to take advantage of six power-play opportunities. 

Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) made 17 saves in net for the Pioneers, while Rose Pijaca was solid in net for the Vailants with 32 saves.