UTICA, NY- The Utica University women's hockey team had its historic season come to an end Saturday as it suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to Manhattanville College in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference semifinal.
 
Utica used a goal in each of the first two periods to take a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame.  Senior Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) got things going at 11:10 of the first period with her team-leading 29^th goal of the year.  The tally marked Santullo's 55^th point of the season, which set a new program single-season record.  Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) and Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) picked up assists on the opener.
 
Utica doubled its lead at 12:17 of the second when Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) buried a beautiful centering feed from Brooke Hubert (Oceanside, NY/Minnesota State University- Mankato) for her career-best 18^th goal of the year.  Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) was also credited with an assist on the insurance tally. 
 
The Valiants cut the deficit in half just 2:32 into the third period as Annie Niedermier capitalized on a defensive zone mishap and fired a shot into the top of the net.  Manhattanville evened the score at the halfway point of the third as Taylor Ham put in a feed from Grace Felicio and Gabrielle Cox.
 
Utica controlled the majority of play in the overtime period, firing eight shots on goal in the extra frame, but it was Manhattanville that put in the decisive score when Cox found the back of the net at the 12:27 mark of overtime with her team-leading 20^th goal of the season. 
 
Sophomore Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 27 saves for the Pioneers, while her counterpart, Franny Gerardi made 47 saves.
 
The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 21-6 overall record, marking the best season in program history.  Utica also set new program standards for goals (152), assists (252), goals per game (5.6), shorthanded goals (10), shutouts (10), and goals against average (1.4) in a single year.