UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's ice hockey team gave itself a chance to win against #11 Norwich, but the visiting Cadets found just enough leverage to win. A second period goal by Taylor Girouard broke a 0-0 tie, and Norwich held off the comeback attempt in the third to defeat the Pioneers by a 1-0 score in exhibition action at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. 

The Cadets held a 33-16 advantage in shots, and the teams were a combined 0-for-3 on the power play. 

Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) was sharp with 32 saves on 33 shots in the loss. Senior defender Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) had a team-best three shots on goal for the Pioneers. 

The visiting side scored its goal at 19:36 of the second period when Girouard flushed a rebound following a spectacular save by Hawthorne.

After getting outshot 23-7 through two periods, the Pioneers hung with Norwich in the third period with a 10-9 deficit in shots, but Cadet netminder Jillian Wexler stopped them all to preserve the win. 

Utica opens the regular season on Friday at nationally-ranked Elmira College.