UTICA, NY - The No. 13 Utica University women's hockey team extended its winning streak to 13 straight games with a commanding 3-1 win over Manhattanville on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers outshot the Valiants 53-16 while Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) led the way for Utica with two points in the contest with a goal and an assist. Seven other Pioneers added a point in the victory. 
 
The Pioneers controlled much of the first period action as they outshot Manhattanville 17-3 and held the puck for much of the period. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) both had goals taken away from them after the referees determined Sloan's shot was kicked in and deemed goalkeeper interference on Sheaffer's. Despite the Pioneers dominant first period play, they could not find the back of the net as the period ended scoreless.  
 
While the Valiants tallied only three shots on goal in the period, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made several great saves. The junior goalie stopped Manhattanville's first shot of the period with an impressive save with her glove and would later stop a breakaway chance as she deflected a shot away from the net.  
 
The second period provided much action as Utica tallied three goals and Manhattanville added one of their own.  
 
The Pioneers wasted no time in the second as Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) netted the first goal of the game from close range 43 seconds into the period off assists from Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) and Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons). Just over four minutes later, Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) added more fuel to the Pioneers' momentum as she backhanded in the second goal of the contest. Callie McLaughlin (Centerport, NY/New Hampton School) and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) provided the assist. 
 
Manhattanville showed some fight with a goal of its own at the 7:12 mark to cut the deficit to 2-1. This momentum shift wouldn't last for long for the Valiants as Stefanini brought the Pioneers back to a two-goal lead in the second as she rifled a shot to the back of the net for the Pioneers' third goal of the period amidst a 5-3 powerplay.  
 
Neither team scored in a competitive third period with Utica outshooting Manhattanville 13-10 en route to capping off the series sweep. 
 
No. 13 Utica (14-1-1, 11-0-1 UCHC) will remain home to host No. 7 Hamilton College on Tuesday, January 24. Puck drop from the Nexus Center is set for 7 p.m.