ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica College women's ice hockey team got a stellar goaltending performance, but host Nazareth scored goals in the first and third periods to deal the Pioneers a 2-0 loss in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference game at the Bill Gray's IcePlex in Rochester, NY.

The Pioneers fall to 3-2, and take their first conference loss of the season to stand at 2-1 in league play. Nazareth improves to 1-1 overall, and in conference play.

UC was led by a sparkling effort from junior netminder Savannah Gutierrez (Huntington Beach, CA/Anaheim Lady Ducks). Gutierrez had a career-high 52 saves on 54 shots against to hold a potent Nazareth offense to a rather quiet output on the evening. Utica was outshot in the game 54-19. Nazareth was 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Pioneers were unsuccessful in eight chances.

Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) each had three shots on goal apiece for Utica. Rookie Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) won nine faceoffs in thirteen opportunities. Nazareth's Delaney Carle scored in the first period, and Makenna Wiljanen netted a goal in the third.

The Pioneers will meet the Golden Flyers in the second leg of a home-and-home conference weekend on Saturday. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.