UTICA, NY - The No. 9 Utica University women's hockey team defeated the visiting Neumann University Knights, 10-0, on Friday night from the Utica University Nexus Center. 

The Pioneers were red-hot on offense, outshooting Neumann 72-5 in the contest. Utica also won the faceoff battle 36-19.  

Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) had a career game scoring her first goal as a Pioneer before adding another goal in the third period as well as an assist in the contest. Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans) and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) each recorded a pair of goals with Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards), and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) each scoring one goal with one assist. Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) had one goal with Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons), Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School), Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy), Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)), and Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) each tallying two assists. Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles), Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)), and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) each added one assist. 

Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) was terrific in net recording another shutout on the season and making five fine saves to keep Neumann off the scoreboard. She added to her program shutout record with the 16th of her career.  

The Pioneers got off to a scorching start leading 5-0 after the first period and outshooting Neumann an incredible 27-1. Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans) got the party started, scoring at the 5:31 mark off a beautiful feed from Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Cortney Staniszewski (Buffalo, NY/Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles) to give Utica a 1-0 lead. Not even two minutes later, Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) scored her first goal as a Pioneer via a Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) dime with Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) earning the secondary assist to increase the lead to 2-0.  

Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) found the back of the net at the 8:38 mark via a Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) and Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) assist. Modlin then scored at the 12:17 mark off a pass from Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy) to increase the lead to 4-0 with Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) on the secondary assist. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) scored the final goal of the period at the 14:59 mark with Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) and Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) earning the assists to give Utica a 5-0 edge heading into the first intermission. 

Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards) continued the barrage finding the back of the net at the 6:18 mark with Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy) and Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, NY/Sacred Heart (NCAA DI)) getting the assists, increasing the Pioneers lead to 6-0. Utica remained in the attacking zone with Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University) scoring at the 11:27 mark off a feed from Rylott and Novotny mounting the Utica lead to 7-0. Neumann started to find its groove registering three times as many shots in the frame with its goaltender and defense only allowing the sole Utica goal. The Pioneers took a 7-0 lead into the final period of play. 

The scoring slowed down in the third period with DeLong finding the back of the net at the 8:40 mark off a dime from Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) and Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards) to increase the Utica lead to 8-0. The final period saw the team's fighting for the puck in the neutral zone with Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) capitalizing and scoring at the 17:35 mark with Kowaslki and Barrett earning the assists. Ryder closed out the game scoring with just 12 seconds to go off a fast break to make it a 10-0 lead which was the final score of the contest.   
 

Utica (8-0-2, 5-0-2 UCHC) will remain home and host Neumann University again on Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. while honoring its seniors before the game.