UTICA, NY -- The Utica College women's ice hockey team blanked Alvernia University at home on Saturday afternoon, 3-0. With the victory, UC moves to 6-7 in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference, 7-11 overall.

Despite being dominant on offense, the Pioneers were unable to find the back of the goal in the first period, leading the shot count 26-8. They closed out the period on a 5-on-3 penalty kill, receiving calls with less than one minute on the clock. 

To open the second Utica successfully killed of both penalties, and even saw a power play of their own. The hosts went back on the skater down with a blown whistle at 14:05. The Golden Wolves called for a timeout in hopes of setting up a scoring play, unsuccessful the score remained knotted at zero with less than three minutes remaining in the middle stanza.

It was Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) who recorded the Pioneers' game-winning goal as she was able to beat the goalie over the right shoulder with a wrister from the left faceoff circle. Santullo's tally was assisted by Kyra Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Holderness) and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School).

Less than 50 seconds later, Morgan Leib (Farmington Hills, MI/Little Caesars) added an insurance goal, helped along by Whitney and Maya Bennett (Belleville, ON/West Northumberland) to own a 2-0 lead heading into the final period. 

Utica found itself a skater down once again in the opening two minutes of the stanza, but was able to keep the visitors off the board in an offensive penalty kill, owning a few short handed shots.

The Pioneers were able to officially put the game away with 28 seconds remaining as captain Olivia Hirschy (Fort Wayne, IN/Culver Academies) was able to beat the Golden Wolves' netminder stick side. Caley Susitti (Hartland, WI/Milwaukee Jr. Admirals) and Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) earned assists on the score.

Senior Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) collected her ninth-ever shutout, second on the season, collecting 12 saves. Reilly is now the sole owner of the fourth spot on the all-time shutouts list, breaking her previous tie with Jenni Hamilton.

UC will return to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday, hosting Stevenson University for a UCHC contest.