Northfield, VT – The Utica College women’s hockey team had its upset hopes dashed as it fell to nationally ranked No. 3 Norwich University, 2-1 Friday afternoon in non-conference action.
The loss snapped Utica’s five-game unbeaten streak as it drops to 5-3-2 on the season. UC’s only losses have come to teams ranked in the top-three in the national poll. The Pioneers look to bounce back Tuesday as they host No. 4 ranked Middlebury College. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. The Cadets improve to 9-1-1 on the season and stretch their unbeaten streak to ten games. Norwich will travel to No. 2 ranked Elmira on Sunday.
Utica outshot the home team 8-7 in the first period, however neither team was able to find the back of the net as the score was knotted at 0-0 after 20 minutes of action. The Cadets took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity midway through the second period as Kaycie Anderson netted her fifth of the year, unassisted, at 9:38 to take a 1-0 lead. Just 43 seconds later, Norwich stretched its lead to 2-0 as Rachel Bellio scored her second of the year. Liz Gemmiti assisted on the power play goal.
Utica got on the board with just over two minutes remaining in the second stanza as sophomore Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) tallied her first of the year. Junior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) had an assist to extend her point-streak to seven games. Senior Samantha Pucci (Pearl River, NY/Connecticut Polar Bears) also added a helper on the play. Despite two Norwich penalties in the final seven minutes of the game, Utica was not able to score the equalizer as the Cadets won their ninth of the season.
Sophomore Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) collected 28 saves, while her counterpart, Laurie King made 15 stops for her second win of the season. UC went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Cadets were 2-for-4 with the man advantage.
