UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's hockey team is back on the road this weekend to face Lebanon Valley College for a two-game series. Friday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m., while Saturday's puck drop will be at 2 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers swept a two-game series at home versus Neumann University last weekend, outscoring the Knights 20-1 over the two games. In game one, graduate student Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) led the way with her second straight hat trick while Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) had a career-high four points (one goal, three assists). Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) had a two-goal putting while Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland), Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy), Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons), and Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) also scored.  Angela Hwthorne picked up her fifth shutout of the year as she finished with 21 saves.  On Saturday, Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) tallied her second hat trick of the season, while Brown and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) each had two goals. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) and Hannah Keating (North Andover, MA/HPNA) each found the back of the net once. Sophomore goaltenders Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) and Maddie Esposito (Ashburn, VA/Boston Shamrocks) combined for 12 saves in the win.
 
A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE: The Pioneers are currently second in the UCHC with 39 points, with a 13-1 record in league play. Nazareth holds the top spot with 42 points (14-0 UCHC), and Mahattanville is third with 30 points (10-4 UCHC). Chatham (9-7 UCHC) and Stevenson (9-5 UCHC) round out the top five with 27 points apiece. Utica has six conference games remaining, four of which are against teams ranked seventh or lower in the standings.
 
SUCCESS FOR SPECIAL TEAMS: UC currently leads the nation with 24 powerplay goals, while sitting first in the UCHC and second nationally with a 32.0 power play percentage. On the defensive side, the Pioneers are third in the conference with a 92.1 penalty kill percentage and they rank fourth in the nation in short-handed goals with five.
 
FIRE AT WILL: Utica is first nationally in multiple offensive statistical categories. The Pioneers are first in goals (112), assists (185), powerplay goals (24), team points (297), and goals per game (5.89).
 
SANTULLO SHOOTS, SHE SCORES: Senior Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) continues to be an offensive threat this season. Santullo had two goals and three assists in game two against Neumann to remain one of the nation's leading scorers.  She currently leads the country with 1.22 goals per game and she is second in points per game (2.11). Santullo has totaled 10 multi-point games this season. 
 
BROWN GOES BACK-TO-BACK: Graduate student Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) was named the UCHC Player of the Week for the second week in a row after recording seven points last weekend.  Brown is in the midst of a seven-game scoring streak in which she has totaled 11 goals and five assists.  She has moved into third in the conference and 12th in the nation in goals per game (.79). Brown, who is the most senior member of the squad is on the verge of playing in her 100^th collegiate game.  She currently sits at 99. 
 
SHUTTING THE DOOR: Utica is currently ranked first nationally with nine total shutouts. Sophomore Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer), who is 10-1 on the season, has five shutouts, which places her at third in the country. Her 1.12 goals against average is good enough for third in the UCHC and seventh nationally, as well as her 94.1 save percentage, which places her fourth in the conference and 17th nationally.
 
NATIONAL ATTENTION: The Pioneers are currently in the "receiving votes" category of the DCU/USCHO Division III Women's Poll. This marks the first time since Nov. 18, 2019 where UC received votes.
 
SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY: The Flying Dutchmen are 6-9-1 overall (5-8-1 UCHC) and they are currently coming off a pair of losses last weekend to Stevenson University. Lebanon Valley is led by junior Abby Radcliffe, who has 10 points (seven goals, three assists), as well as junior goaltender Shelby Guinard, who is currently 5-4-1 on the season, with three of those wins resulting in shutouts. Utica is 7-0 all-time against Lebanon Valley College. The last time these two teams played was on Jan. 18, 2020, where the Pioneers prevailed 2-0 against the Flying Dutchmen.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers are back home next weekend as they will face conference foe Wilkes University in a two-game series. Friday's game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., and Saturday's Gold Ribbon Game will also begin at 2:30 p.m.