RYE, NY - The No. 13 Utica University women's hockey team fell 2-1 in overtime against the Manhattanville Valiants on Saturday evening at the Playland Ice Casino.
Jordan Kowalski (Chicopee, MA/Westfield) scored Utica's lone gone while
Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) made 18 saves.
Point leaders: Kowalski (one goal),
Riley Calhoun (New Hartford, NY/Plattsburgh State University (NCAA DIII)) (one assist).
It was a tight first period with both teams letting off nine shots each. Utica registered the first four shots on goal in six minutes of action, but Valiant goaltender Olivia Cimorelli made all four saves. The Pioneers combined for nine faceoff wins between
Angelina Garganese (Winter Springs, Fl/Florida Alliance) (one),
Kendall Best (Troy, MI/Troy HS / Belle Tire) (two),
Hailey Modlin (Phoenix, AZ/Boston Shamrocks) (two) and Kowalski (four). Eight players tallied at least one shot on net in the period as Manhattanville and Utica entered the second tied at zero.
The Valiants drew first blood 9:43 into the second frame as Abby Mellen gave her team a 1-0 lead. With just under a second remaining on the clock, Kowalski wrapped around the net and snuck the puck past Cimorelli to tie the game at 1-1.
Utica was relentless on the forecheck in the last two minutes which led to the goal. The Pioneers outshot Manhattanville 27 to 12 in the period along with winning 14 faceoffs compared to the Valiants 10. All but two skaters for Utica registered at least one shot through two periods of play.
Both teams went scoreless in the third period. Cimorelli made 11 saves, keeping the Pioneer offense at bay. Utica and Manhattanville entered overtime tied at one. Manhattanville would find the back of the net with 2:38 left in overtime, taking a 2-1 win.
Utica (16-7-0, 7-3-0 UCHC) hosts Chatham University in their final pair of regular season games on Friday, February 21 (3pm) and Saturday, February 22 (2pm). Friday's game is at the ADK Bank Center (free admission) and Saturday is at the Utica University Nexus Center.
