UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's ice hockey team returned to its winning ways in fashion, taking down Neumann University 6-2 on Friday afternoon to move to 6-2 in the UCHC, 6-10 overall. UC was led by a hat trick from Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School), her first-career three goal game.

The sophomore wasted no time recording her first goal of the day, as she collected the puck below the goal line, skated around the defense and sent a wrister top shelf on the Neumann goaltender. Santullo's tally at 6:20 in the first period was helped along by Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) and Maya Bennett (Belleville, ON/West Northumberland).

Less than 10 minutes later the forward was at it again, this time with an unassisted score. Santullo was able to intercept an errant pass in the offensive zone, again sending a wrister soaring into the back of the net from the left faceoff circle. The Knights answered two minutes later with a tally of their own, cutting the Pioneers' lead to one goal (2-1) heading into the first intermission.

It took 10 minutes and some change into the second stanza before Utica was able to find of the back of the goal, this time off the stick of Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) on a delayed penalty. The forward was tripped up in front of the visitor's goal, drawing an interference call. While on the ice she received a pass from Captain Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies), which she was able to redirect for the eventual game-winning tally.

At 17:31 in the middle period Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) recorded a goal of her own, as she received a long pass from Sirena Fitzery (Hamburg, NY/Buffalo Bisons) at her own blue line, which she took the full length of the ice before making easy work of Neumann's Helen Cooney in goal. Rylott's insurance tally was also assisted on by Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel).

Santullo was finally able to finish her hat trick with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. The Woburn, MA native ripped a shot on net that was just too hot to handle, as Cooney bobbled it, losing it in the goal.

The Knights were able to record another goal of their own, as Stanisewski handed a four-minute penalty for hooking and high sticking, scoring with just seconds remaining on the skater-up advantage.

Rounding out the scoring for UC was Caley Susitti (Hartland, WI/Milwaukee Jr. Admirals), who got a piece of the scoring pie, as Hirschy's shot deflected off her shoulder and into the goal with just under nine minutes remaining in the contest. Stanisweski was also credited with a helper on the goal.

Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) spent the entire 60 minutes in goal, turning away 15 of the Knights' 17 shots, going 1-for-4 on the penalty kill.

The Pioneers dominated the statiscal categories, doubling up the competition in shots (35-17), just four shy of the mark in faceoff wins (30-19).

UC returns to action at 2 pm Saturday, as it hosts Manhattanville College in another UCHC matchup.