UTICA, NY - The No. 10 Utica University women's hockey team celebrated its Gold Ribbon Game with a 4-1 win over the visiting Worcester State University Lancers on Tuesday evening. 
 
The Pioneers saw efforts from four different goal scorers as Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) and Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's) each notched one. Sheaffer and Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) led the team with two points each, Sheaffer adding an assist to her line and Staniszewski recording a pair. Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) all had an assist each. 
 
In goal, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 21 saves on 22 Lancer shots to earn her seventh win of the year. 
 
Utica controlled shots all not, ending the game with a 52-22 edge. The team also handled faceoffs going 37-for-55 as a unit led by Jordan Kowalski's (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) 14 wins. 
 
Utica started the first period firing as the team recorded three shots in the first four minutes of action. Early in the period, Worcester State forward Layna Pereiro received a two minute penalty for hooking, sending Utica's power play unit on the ice - a unit in which has recorded 11 goals on the season. 
 
The Pioneers registered five shots on the power play, but Worcester State goaltender, Kelsey Czerniawski, saved each of them as she stood on her head for the first 5:25 of regulation. With 6:52 into the period, Utica struck first as Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) and Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) assisted Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans) to put the Pioneers up 1-0. This was Ryder's first goal of the 2023-24 season and her third career goal. Three minutes later the Lancers responded as Carolne Gates assisted Sydney Vautour to even the game at one goal a piece. No more goals were scored in the period as Utica and Worcester would go into the second tied 1-1. 
 
Both teams combined for 26 shots in the first period, Utica was responsible for 19 and Worcester had five. Czerniawski gobbled up 18 saves, while Utica's Hawthorne ate up four. The Pioneers dominated at the faceoff dot winning 16 out of 18. 
 
The second period was closely contested as the teams combined for 29 shots. The Lancers let off 13 shots while Utica had 16. 6:43 into the period, Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Staniszewski dished a pass to Sheaffer as she capitalized to extend Utica's lead 2-1. Like Ryder, it served as Sheaffer's first goal of the season as she extended her career goal total to eight. Soon after, Worcester would let off four shots in a row, but Hawthorne was there to deny them all. Both teams went shot-for-shot the rest of the period, but none found the back of the net sending the teams into the third with Utica up 2-1. 
 
Utica kept its foot on the gas firing three shots in three minutes. Just 3:38 into the third period Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) recorded her second point of the season as she assisted Molly Pedone (Trinity, FL/Shattuck-St. Mary's), who scored to give Utica a 3-1 lead. Late in the third, Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) extended Utica's lead with a shorthanded goal assisted by Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), keeping her point streak alive by extending it to four consecutive games. Whitney's goal was the icing on the cake, sending Utica home with a 4-1 victory. 
 
Utica (7-0-2, 4-0-2 UCHC) will host Neumann University on Friday, December 1 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. with Saturday's game marking the team's senior day.