Buffalo, NY (2/20/15)- The Utica College women’s hockey team picked up one point in the ECAC West Conference standings as it tied host Buffalo State, 3-3, in league play Friday afternoon.
The Pioneers (9-10-5, 6-7-4 ECAC West) now control their own destiny. If UC defeats the Bengals in the series finale on Saturday, Utica will host a first round playoff game. The rematch between Buffalo State and Utica will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
After a scoreless first period, the Bengals broke the deadlock at 3:24 as Caitie Horvatits netted her fourth goal of the season, assisted by Missy Mallon. Utica rebounded less than four minutes later as senior Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) netted two goals in 2:20 to give Utica the 2-1 lead. Nicole Schwartz (Danville, CA/San Jose Sharks) and Allison Buch (Alexandria, VA/Reston Raiders) assisted on Dowdall’s first goal, while Louise Steele-Norton (Avondale, PA/Millbrook School) registered her sixth helper of the year on the second tally.
Buffalo State evened the score at 12:58 of the second when Christine Harris converted on the power-play for her seventh of the year. Viivi Vaattovaara and Bri Carroll assisted on the play. The Pioneers regained the lead at 16:26 as senior captain Nicole Kieffer found the back of the net for her third of the year. Schwartz and Steele-Norton assisted on the power-play tally.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Carroll was able to beat Utica goalie Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) for her sixth of the season. Vaattovaara and Kara Goodwin assisted on the equalizer.
Goin finished the day with a game-high 35 saves, while her counterpart, Justine Silva, turned aside 24 shots. Utica snapped it recent power-play woes as it went 2-for-3 with the man advantage, while the Bengals were 2-for-7.
