RYE, NY - The No. 9 Utica University women's hockey team battled back to draw even with the Manhattanville Valiants, 3-3, on Friday evening. The Valiants went on to take the shootout, 1-0, to earn the extra point in the UCHC standings. 
 
Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) found the back of the net twice for Utica while Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) netted one. As a team, Utica outshot Manhattanville 77-32 and 47-15 on goal. The Valiants controlled the faceoff battle 28-24. In goal, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 12 saves. 
 
The Valiants got off to a hot start with a goal in the third minute by Harper Weisbeck for a quick 1-0 edge. Later at 10:50, Manhattanville struck again when Gabrielle Cox found the back of the net to jump ahead 2-0. However, the Pioneers refused to exit the period without making a dent as Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) netted her sixth goal of the year at 17:09 to cut the Valiants' lead in half entering the second. Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) assisted on Modlin's goal. 
 
Utica outshot Manhattanville 12-6 on goal and 23-8 over the first 20 minutes of play while each side controlled six faceoffs. 
 
The Pioneers wasted no time making some noise in the second period. At 1:21, Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) notched her second goal of the season to even the score at 2-2 with Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) assisting on the score. However, roughly 3:30 later, Cox scored her second goal of the evening to put the Valiants back up 3-2. 
 
Late in the period at 15:18, Sydney Mintz (Kelowna, BC/Okanagan Hockey Academy) was called for interference to set up the first power play for either team. Despite this, the Utica defense shored up and limited the Valiants to one shot and none on go to complete a successful kill and keep the game at bay. Once again though, the Pioneer penalty kill would be called upon at 17:36 as Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons) was sent to the penalty box for a cross check. 
 
Just as the Manhattanville power play was drawing to a close, Cox was nabbed for interference to set up a 4-on-4 and eventual Utica power play as the period wound down. The frame would come to a close however, the Pioneers were set up to open the third on the advantage. 
 
And an advantage it was. Towards the end of the second, Grace Genest was called for high sticking and handed Utica a 5-on-3 to start the final 20 minutes of regulation. 
 
Despite a few nice looks on goal on the 5-on-3 and a couple others on the 5-on-4, Utica couldn't muster up the game-tying goal while on the advantage. 
 
It would be at 7:44 on a loose puck out in front of the cage that Utica would go on and break through. With assists by Whitney and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland), Modlin found the back of the net for her second tally of the night and the equalizer. 
 
With under four minutes to play in the third, the Pioneers fought off another Valiant power play that ultimately sent the game into overtime. 
 
In an action packed OT, both goalies held their ground as Hawthorne had one major save while Franny Gerardi had a handful to shift the game into a shootout. 
 
Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) took the first attempt and was denied by Gerardi following a nice move to her right. Hawthorne answered back and denied Manhattanville's first attempt. Whitney attempted Utica's second attempt and couldn't get it to go. Cox set up for the Valiants and put a nice move on Hawthorne to capitalize. Sloan lined up for Utica's last attempt and was sent away by Gerardi for the Valiants to take the shootout.
 
No. 9 Utica (5-0-2, 3-0-2 UCHC) and Manhattanville complete the two-game series at 3 p.m. on Saturday.