UTICA, NY -- The Utica College women's ice hockey team was unable to overcome the conference leading Manhattanville Valiants on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 at home.
Manhattanville was quick to set the tone, scoring its first goal of the period just three minutes in as a shot knocked off a UC defensemen and past the goaltender.
Utica found itself down a pair of skaters as Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) were sent to the box within a minute and 20 seconds of each other. UC was able to kill off both penalties with several saves by Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) and clutch blocked shots.
After being dealt another 5-on-3 going the wrong way, the Pioneers were successfully able to kill off the first penalty, but fell just short on the second as the Valiants extended their lead to two with 30 seconds remaining on the skater-up.
The visitors were able to collect their final tally of the day three minutes into the middle period, again on the power play, as they pulled the UC goalie out of position to the right and eventually beat her stick side.
For the first time all game it appeared that the tides may have shifted as Utica found itself on a nearly two-minute 5-on-3. The Pioneers put up multiple strong shots, but were able to make it past the well placed defenseman.
The final minutes of the period proved to be chaotic as it appeared Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) had beaten the goaltender, but her shot ultimately bounced off the crossbar, then the goalie, and then flew in the wrong direction. This was followed up by several on goal attempts in the waning seconds.
Utica continued to pressure offensively, as Sanutllo skated around several Valiants before her shot went just wide of the goal.
With five minutes remaining on the clock, Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) recorded the second-best opportunity of the game, when she collected her own rebound and followed it up with a shot that trickled past the netminder, but was waived off by the officials.
In goal for Utica was Reilly who collected 30 saves.
Despite trailing in the goal count, UC was able to battle back in the shots category, trailing just 33-32 as the final buzzer rang. Both teams were defensively sound, as the hosts posted 9 blocks to Manhattanville's 12.
The Pioneers return to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday as they host Alvernia for another UCHC matchup.
