UTICA, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team scored four unanswered goals, including three in the third period as it downed visiting New England College 5-2 in non-conference action Saturday at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Sophomore transfer Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) led the way for Utica as she scored her first two goals as a Pioneer.
Brown netted her first of the day at 7:55 of the first period off an assist from classmate Kyra Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Holderness). Borsoi gathered a puck at the Utica blue line and skated it into the attacking end. Borsoi lost the puck while driving towards the net, but Brown was there to chip in the loose puck to put UC up 1-0.
The Pilgrims scored a pair of powerplay goals in the second period off the sticks of Vicki Shaw and Julia Radcliffe. It looked like UC was going to head into the locker room trailing 2-1 before Brown was able to burry a rebound with just 1.8 seconds left on the clock to even the score. Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) and Jennifer Liu (North Saanich, British Columbia/Shaftesbury Titans) assisted on Brown’s second of the day.
The third period was all Utica as the Pioneers exploded for three goals in 1:48 to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Freshman Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) got things going at 6:04 as she redirected a point shot off the stick of Danielle Haasbeek (Grand Forks, ND/Balmoral Hall) for her first collegiate goal. Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Belle Tire) also assisted on the play.
Just 45 seconds later it was Husak who found the back of the net with a rocket from the point off a faceoff win by Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine’s Chaos). Utica capped off the scoring at 7:52 as senior Jennifer Arts (Lakeside, Ontario/London Devilettes) roofed a shot off the post and in for her first of the year. Noelle Capriglione (New Milford, CT/New Milford Green Wave) and Emily Holtshouser (Manchester, NH/Middlesex Islanders) picked up assists on Arts’ tally.
Freshman Gabrielle Igo (Phoenix, AZ/Northern Cyclones) made 18 saves to earn the win in her first collegiate start, while her counterpart, Ashley Castriotta made 34 saves in the loss.
The Pioneers look to ride their momentum into a showdown at defending national champion, Plattsburgh State on Sunday. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
