Annville, PA - The No. 9 Utica University women's hockey team defeated the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen 2-1 in the first of two games on the weekend. Senior forward Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) was the star of the game as she recorded Utica's only goals on the night. 
 
Overall, 15 different skaters on Utica recorded at least one shot on goal. Faceoffs were controlled by Utica as they held a 33-21 advantage and 80 shots were registered between both teams.
 
The first period consisted of both teams causing pressure on each other's side of the ice. At 15:53 in the first period Lebanon Valley struck first. Jess Dawe found Tiffany Anderson to put the Dutchmen up 1-0.  Utica and Lebanon Valley combined for 28 shots on goal over the first 20 minutes. Utica's Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) snagged 14 of Lebanon Valley's 15 shots on goal and Lebanon Valley's Mia Frisoni also grabbed 14. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) each had three shots on goal while seven other players recorded at least one shot on goal. The Pioneers and Dutchmen split in the faceoff department, 10-10. The teams would go into the second period with Lebanon Valley leading 1-0. 
 
The Pioneers capitalized early in the second period on a short-handed opportunity. Forward Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) scored on an assist from defender Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards) to even the game at 1-1. Two minutes later, forward Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) found Modlin again to put Utica up 2-0. That was Modlin's fifth goal of the season and her third consecutive game with at least one score. Both goalkeepers, Hawthorne and Frisoni, had one save each in the frame. 
 
The third period consisted of Utica and Lebanon Valley battling in each other's offensive zones, but neither team could find the back of the net. Both goalies made a plethora of saves as Utica had 27 shots, 20 on goal, and Lebanon Valley had 13 shots, nine on goal. 
 
Utica would hold on to win 2-1 and secure its first UCHC victory of the season
 
Utica (3-0-0, 1-0-0 UCHC) and Lebanon Valley will meet again at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday to wrap up the two-game set.