LAKE PLACID, NY - Utica University's women's hockey team completed its second game of a two-game neutral-site series with the SUNY Canton Kangaroos. In the Herb Brooks Arena, a surge by Utica in the third period was not enough, as the Roos closed out the Pioneers 3-2. Utica drops to 3-10-1 overall this season and has been held winless for nine games. The team returns to home ice on Wednesday in a matchup with the Worcester State University Lancers.

Senior captain Kaci Ryder (Shrewsbury, MA/) scored for a second consecutive game, with Samantha Dobrzynski (Garnet Valley, PA/) opening the scoring for Utica. Kelsey Elliott (Attleboro, MA/) and Nora Pollestad (Stavanger, Norway/) pocketed assists on Dobrzynski's score, with Maya Jerome (Belleville, MI/) and Tess Barrett (Tewksbury, MA/St. Mark's) tallying helpers on Ryder's. Alex Venning (Courtice, ON/) earned the start in net again for Utica, making 27 saves in the outing.

Of Canton's six total point scorers, just one of them earned a second. Riley Andzel netted an unassisted game-winning goal after previously assisting on the game-opener. The opening goal was scored by Lucy Beal, followed by Kyra O'Keefe giving the Roos their second lead of the game. Anna Pavlasova joined Andzel with an assist on Beal's goal. Jane Pancoe and Alyssa Townsley were credited with assists on O'Keefe's tally. Alyssa Townsley played between the pipes for Canton, saving 18 of 20 shots that came her way.

Beal broke the 0-0 tie just 5:10 into the game on the power play, the first of nine total between the teams, giving Canton an early lead. The score held through the next 23 minutes of play before Dobrzynski responded with a power play goal of her own after 8:53 of play in the 2nd period. Just 4:35 later, O'Keefe netted Canton's second score to reestablish their lead. Ryder's score to reeven the game came just 2:22 into the 3rd period, but Andzel scored 34 seconds later to shut the door on a Utica comeback. The Pioneers kept pressure on, taking 10 of their 20 shots on goal in the final period, and limiting Canton to just six, but were unable to respond.

Utica will return to home ice for the team's Gold Ribbon Game on Wednesday, January 14th. Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm at the Utica University Nexus Center. This will mark the team's final non-conference game of the season, and the final home game until the end of the month.