PINE VALLEY, NY – The Utica College women’s hockey team lost to host and nationally-ranked No. 1 Elmira College 6-3 in the semifinals of the ECAC Women’s West Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon. UC managed a 2-2 tie after one period of play but the Soaring Eagles went on to outscore the Pioneers 4-1 in the final two periods to advance to Sunday’s conference tournament finals.
The Pioneers played a tight contest through 20 minutes of action. UC’s Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) netted her third goal of the season 12:15 into the first period to knot the score at 1-1. Pelton’s lone goal of the game was assisted by freshman Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School). Lortie finished the night with two points to pace the Pioneers.
Elmira answered with its second power-play goal of the contest at the 16:35 ledger to take a 2-1 lead. The home team’s advantage would not last for long as UC’s Kelsey Dowdall (Smiths Falls, ONT/Nepean) tied the game up at 2-2 with just 40 seconds to go in the first period. Dowdall’s one-timer was beautifully assisted by senior classmate Louie Steele-Norton. Steele-Norton has posted eight points in her last five games.
Elmira dominated the second period of play, outshooting the Pioneers 23-3 in the 20 minute stretch and the Soaring Eagles also netted two goals to take a 4-2 lead.
The Soaring Eagles then added two quick goals in the first 2:03 of the third period to essentially put the game out of reach. Utica’s Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) netted her seventh goal of the season with 3:25 to go in the contest, off assists from Lortie and senior defender Nicole Kieffer, to cut UC’s deficit to three goals.
Utica goalie Kiera Goin stopped a career-high 38 shots on the afternoon while Soaring Eagle goalie Kyle Nelson made 16 saves between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles. Elmira earned a 44-19 shot advantage on the afternoon.
Utica closes out its season with an 11-11-5 overall record after making its 13th appearance in the ECAC West Conference Tournament in program-history. Elmira improved to 24-1-1 overall and advances to the finals of the ECAC Women’s West Conference Tournament and will take on either No. 3 seeded Oswego and No. 2 Plattsburgh.
