UTICA, NY- The No. 13 Utica University women's hockey team defeated the No. 6 Adrian College Bulldogs 2-1 in overtime in the championship game of the Utica University Kickoff Tournament on Saturday Afternoon.
 
Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) provided the game-winner in what was an intense championship game. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) got the Pioneers on the board early on in the first period with her second goal of the year. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) tallied her team high fourth assist of the season on the goal, along with Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) who now has three assists through two games played this year. Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) was stellar in goal with 44 saves on the afternoon. The Pioneers defense fended off a blistering fast Adrian team to secure the victory despite being outshot 45-15 in total. 
 
In a first period where Utica was outshot 15-5, the Pioneers were ultimately able to score the lone goal in the frame as they took advantage of another power play opportunity. At the 10:13 mark, Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) would score her second goal of the season, assisted by Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's). This marked the Pioneers' fifth power play goal out of seven opportunities this season. Adrian had several great chances to score a goal of their own, but the superb play of Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) left them blank in the first. Hawthorne made several incredible saves this period to keep the Pioneers on top. 
 
There were no goals scored in the second, largely due to the continued dominance of Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) in goal. The senior continued to keep Adrian's offense at bay with 12 saves in the period. Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy) also made a key deflection amidst an Adrian two-on-one chance to help maintain the Pioneers' lead. 
 
Adrian was finally able to get on the board in the third, scoring at the 7:05 mark. The Bulldogs commanded much of the third period, outshooting Utica 16-2. Just under nine minutes into the frame, Adrian was given a five minute major penalty for kicking but Utica was unable to take advantage of the power play opportunity. Nicole Flak (Middleton, MA/Boston Shamrocks) had both shots on goal for Utica but was unable to get one past the goalie and the game went into overtime. 
 
Just 12 seconds into overtime, Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) got the puck near the neutral zone on a two-on-one breakaway and sniped a shot top shelf past the goalie, Michaela O'Brien, for the game-winner. Whitney now has two goals on the season, both of which coming from caused neutral zone turnovers. 
 
No. 13 Utica (2-0-0, 0-0-0 UCHC) will travel to Annville, PA next weekend to take on Lebanon Valley on Friday, November 3 at 7 p.m.