READING, PA - The No. 9 Utica University women's hockey team delivered a statement 3-1 road win against the Alvernia University Golden Wolves on Friday evening after being off for over a month. 

The Pioneers were led by forward Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University), who scored two goals on three shots. This was Sheaffer's second two-goal game of the year, with her first coming against Neumann University on December 2. Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/WC Swans) scored the day's first goal late in the first period and recorded one assist. Callie McLaughlin (Centerport, NY/New Hampton School), Autumn Mish (Long Lake, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)), Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) and Ryder each registered one apple. This was Mish's first game for Utica as she collected her first Pioneer point. 

In goal, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 21 saves for Utica on 22 of Alvernia's shots, with the lone goal allowed on a power play by Riley Hill in the third period. 

Utica and Alvernia ended the first period with 22 shots combined, 12 for Utica and 10 for Alvernia. The Pioneers fired off three shots in the first 30 seconds of regulation, putting immense pressure on Golden Wolves' goaltender Julia Beaven. Ryder's goal was the lone goal scored in the first period with 14 seconds left, giving Utica a 1-0 lead. Alvernia edged Utica out in the faceoff department, winning 11 compared to Utica's eight in the period. 

The Pioneers came out dominating in the second period as they registered 16 shots to Alvernia's one. After a plethora of shots fired, Sheafffer broke through midway through the period as both Ryder and Kowalski assisted Sheaffer on the goal to put Utica up 2-0. Midway through the period, Utica let off seven shots in a row, but Beaven was there to deny them. 

In the third period, Utica kept its foot on the gas, firing 20 shots. Alvernia's Riley Hill capitalized on a power play halfway through the third, with assists credited to Alex Robertson and Sydney Bradley to cut the Pioneers lead in half, 2-1. Moments later, Sheaffer notched her second goal of the evening, ultimately putting the icing on the cake for Utica as they defeated Alvernia 3-1. 

Utica (10-1-2, 7-0-2 UCHC) stays on the road and plays Alvernia again tomorrow for a 2 p.m. puck drop.