GLENSIDE, PA - The No. 14 Utica University women's hockey team topped Arcadia 2-0 in a UCHC battle on Friday night.
 
Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) scored the first goal of the game at the 15:59 mark of the third period to give Utica a late 1-0 edge in the contest. With the goal, Sloan became just the third player in program history to score 70 career goals. She then tacked on an empty netter at the 19:33 mark to seal the Pioneers 2-0 victory.
 
Now at 71 for her career, Sloan is three goals away from tying Deana Wiegand and Megan Myers for the all-time program record and four away from taking sole possession of the record. 
 
Sloan led the team with both goals and two points on the evening. Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons) recorded one point with an assist on Sloan's first goal. Utica's offense was firing off shots with Sloan, Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks), Erica Sheaffer (New Hartford, NY/Wilkes University), Autumn Mish (Long Lake, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) and Emma Corbett (Rochester, NY/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) each recording at least six shots. Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) was flawless in net recording a shutout and making 13 saves.
 
The first period was dominated by the Pioneers with the team outshooting the Knights an incredible 29-1. However, Arcadia's defense prevailed, keeping the game scoreless after one with seven blocked shots. The teams were also battling on the faceoff with Utica winning the battle 9-6 after one period of play.
 
The second period was much of the same with Utica winning the shots battle 24-9, yet each team had a chance on the power play, but neither could seize the opportunity. The Knights tightened up on faceoffs to win the period 8-5 and kept protecting the net well with five more blocked shots in the frame. It remained scoreless heading to the final period of regulation.
 
Utica had plenty of chances in the third period with three power plays, yet the Arcadia defense remained stout denying all three chances. Yet, the Pioneers offense continued to fire off shots in bunches and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) found the back of the net off a beautiful feed from Abby Lillis (West Seneca, NY/Buffalo Bisons) to give the Pioneers the lead with just over four minutes to play. Sloan kept the pressure on and added an empty net goal at the 19:33 mark to lock up the UCHC victory.
 
Utica (17-3-2, 13-2-2) will remain on the road and face Arcadia in game two of the series on Saturday, February 10 at 3:30 p.m.