UTICA, NY- Five different players scored as the Utica College women’s hockey team defeated visiting SUNY Canton, 6-3, in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. With the win, the Pioneers pick up the series sweep of the Kangaroos in the opening weekend of action.
Utica got on the board at 4:12 of the first period as junior Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) put in a rebound on the powerplay for her first of the year. Classmate Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) and freshman Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) assisted on the tally.
Freshman Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville), who had two assists in Saturday’s win, netted her first collegiate goal at 16:38 of the first as she fired a shot past Canton goalie Illie Berisha to give Utica the 2-0 lead. Senior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) and junior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) assisted on Patterson’s tally.
Utica added a third score as Schnepp netted her third powerplay goal of the season, assisted by Reed and Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ) with just 26 seconds remaining in the period. Canton was able to get one back, however, as Lora Ardoin netted her first of the year with just 11 seconds left in the opening frame, off assists from Tess Adams and Jessica Pele.
Senior Janessa Hassbeek regained the three-goal lead for the Pioneers just over three minutes into the second stanza as she fired a long shot from the point that beat Berisha. Reed and Schnepp assisted on Haasbeek’s first career goal.
Canton came within two at 11:53 as Adams roofed a perfect shot off the crossbar and in for her first collegiate goal, assisted by Pele. Utica responded with a pair of goals in the next 1:29 to take a commanding 6-2 advantage. First, Reed found the back of the net for her second of the season, off assists from Patterson and junior transfer Jane Pagano (Erie, PA/Tabor Academy). Then, Haasbeek tallied her second of the game as she took a centering pass from sophomore Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and rifled a shot into the top left corner. Pelton also assisted on the play.
Canton was finally able to convert on the powerplay as Noelle Niemiec picked up a loose puck in front of the Utica goal and used a screen to get it past Utica net minder Amanda Lupo (Auburn, NY/Skaneatles). Hannah Brady assisted on the Roos’ third tally.
Lupo stopped 21 shots in her first collegiate start to pick up her first career win, while Berisha totaled 19 saves in the loss. Utica went 3-for-7 on the powerplay, while the Roos were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
The Pioneers (2-0) open up ECAC West conference action next weekend as they take on William Smith College in a home-and-home series. The first game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Aud, before both teams travel to Geneva, NY on Sunday for a 4 p.m. faceoff.
