READING, PA - The No. 9 Utica University women's hockey team downed the Alvernia University Golden Wolves 4-1 on Saturday afternoon to complete the regular series sweep.
Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) provided the Pioneers with a pair of goals on the day, one of which coming short-handed, while
Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and
Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) accounted for the other two. Six different players had an assist in the game as well in Whitney,
Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons),
Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)),
Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's),
Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) and newcomer
Autumn Mish (Long Lake, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)).
Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) registered 13 saves in the contest en route to her 11th victory of her senior campaign. Hawthorne adds to her stretch in which she has only let up three goals since the team's matchup against Worcester State University on November 21.
Utica posted a 50 to 14 shot advantage in three periods of play.
Utica got out to another hot start in the matchup with the Golden Wolves, firing four shots in the first two minutes of regulation.
Just 7:38 into the first period, Utica's
Autumn Mish (Long Lake, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) was charged with a roughing penalty to give Alvernia its first power play on the day. The Pioneers' penalty kill unit got the job done and got back to even strength with no goals allowed. Goaltender
Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) was there to register two saves during the two minute roughing call to keep the score at zero a piece.
Later with 7:40 remaining in the first period, captain
Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) capitalized on a feed from
Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School), giving Utica a 1-0 advantage heading into the second period. Utica outshot Alvernia 20-4 in the first period as the faceoff department was gridlocked with Utica winning 12 and Alvernia taking 11. Alvernia goaltender, Julia Beaven had another great first period in today's game collecting 19 saves while Hawthorne recorded four.
The Pioneers didn't need much time to get shots fired off in the fresh frame as they had six in the first three minutes of play. Just under six minutes into the second, Utica's
Madison Novotny (Wesley Chapel, FL/Northwood School) was charged with a two minute minor for interference. Soon later, Utica went two players down as
Nicole Flak (Middleton, MA/Boston Shamrocks) committed a hooking penalty seven minutes into the second period.
The Pioneers put pressure on the Golden Wolves' power play as Whitney scored a short-handed, three-on-five goal with a dish from
Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons) to give Utica a 2-0 lead.
With 9:44 left in the period, Utica went on its first power play of the day after an elbowing penalty was assessed to Alvernia's Carolyn Burton. Soon later, the Pioneers took advantage as Mish found Novotny who scored, extending Utica's lead to 3-0. Four minutes left in the second, Tess Barret was given a roughing penalty sending her to the box. Alvernia only needed 25 seconds to get on the board as Kathryn Palmer scored, cutting the lead to 3-1 heading to the third period.
Both teams combined for 21 shots in the frame, Utica was responsible for 14 and Alvernia shot seven.
Utica didn't let up in the third period as the team put pressure on Alvernia early and often. The lone goal in the third period came with just under 50 seconds left in the game as
Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) and
Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) assisted Whitney on her second goal of the afternoon, this time in the form of an empty netter, to cap off the win and series sweep.
Utica (11-1-2, 8-0-2 UCHC) stays on the road and will travel to Stevenson, MD for a two-game set against Stevenson University on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13. Both games are set for a 3 p.m. puck drop.
