WORCESTER, MA - The No. 11 Utica University women's hockey team defeated the Worcester State Lancers 3-0 behind Jordan Kowalski's (Chicopee, MA/Plattsburgh State (NCAA DIII)) three goals and Angela Hawthorne's (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) 23 saves on Thursday evening. 
 
Kendall Best (Troy, MI/Troy (Belle Tire)), Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) and Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards) each collected an assist. 17 different players registered at least one shot, with five totaling at least four.
 
The first seven minutes of play were slow, with only five shots, four from Utica and one from Worcester. With 13:00 remaining in the first, the Pioneers turned it up a notch while establishing the offensive zone. With 12:24 on the clock, Kowalski played the puck beautifully off the boards, which resulted in a goal that gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
 
Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/East Coast Wizards) did a great job keeping the puck in the offensive zone, which led to Kowalski's opportunity. With under nine minutes left, Modlin had a grade-A chance on the doorstep off a Worcester turnover in the neutral zone but was turned away by Kelsey Czerniawski who made 44 saves on the evening. Utica closed out the first period up 1-0.
 
Both teams came out energized in the second period, totaling 10 shots in five minutes of action. Kowalski notched her second goal on a power play chance from the Pioneers to give the team a 2-0 advantage with seven minutes left. Novotny did a great job being patient with the puck, which gave Kowalski time and space to rip it and score. Utica and Worcester entered the third period with a 2-0 Pioneer lead.
 
The last frame saw Utica's power play put an immense amount of pressure on Czerniawski midway through the third period, letting off four shots, but none found the back of the net. The Pioneer defense had a great night, getting their sticks in lanes and keeping the Lancer offense out of the middle of the ice.
 
Kowalski scored her third goal off a beautiful breakout pass from Callie McLaughlin (Centerport, NY/New Hampton School) to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead with 13:31 remaining. No more goals were scored as the Pioneers would take home a 3-0 victory.
 
Utica (12-4-0, 3-1-0 UCHC) returns home against Oswego State on Tuesday, January 28 at 7 p.m.