UTICA, NY- Nazareth College scored four goals in the third period to come away with a 5-3 win over the Utica College women’s hockey team in the quarterfinals of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament Thursday evening.
The Pioneers, who were making their 19th postseason appearance in the program’s 20-year history wrap up the season with a 6-7 overall record.
Nazareth jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 13:30 of the first period when Elie Fallieras put in a rebound for her third of the year. Madison Nichols and Hailey Redders tallied assists on the opening goal.
The Pioneers came out flying in the second period and were quickly rewarded as Cailey Susitti netted her first of the season on the powerplay to even the score. Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) picked up the assists on the equalizer.
Utica scored the go-ahead at 12:14 of the second as Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) netted her sixth of the year. The play started in the defensive end when Holly Silva (Boston, MA/Worcester Academy)made a sliding play to block a centering feed. Ava Suda (Cheektowaga, NY/Buffalo Bisons) picked it up and fired a stretch pass to Sloan who went in on a two-on-one. Sloan fired a perfectly placed shot just inside the right post to put the Pioneers on top.
The third period was all Nazareth as the Golden Flyers rattled off four straight, including an empty netter. Senior Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) got one back with 1:27 remaining, but it was too little, too late. Suda and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School)each had assists on Brown’s second fo the year.
Junior Savannah Gutierrez (Huntington Beach, CA/Anaheim Lady Ducks) finished with 29 saves, while Adrianna Brehm made 21 saves for Naz.
