UTICA, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the third period to come away with a 3-0 victory over nationally ranked No. 10 Hamilton College on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Bria Reilly (Hamden, CT/Brewster Academy) picked up the shutout in her first collegiate start.
With the score knotted at 0-0 through 40 minutes, the Pioneers were finally able to break the deadlock at 5:31 of the third as junior Colby Begis (Little Elm, TX/Dallas Stars) fired a wrist shot from the point that got through traffic in front and found its way into the back of the net to put UC up 1-0. Rebecca Brown (Steamboat Springs, CO/Norwich University) and Lexi Stanisewski (Lawrence, MA/Boston Shamrocks) assisted on Begis’ first career goal.
Just over three minutes later, the Pioneers got an insurance tally off the stick of junior Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) to take a 2-0 lead. Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) forced a turnover just inside the Pioneers’ offensive blue line and worked the puck down low. Osowski then found Dohner wide open in the slot who fired a shot glove side for her third of the year. Stanisewski was credited with the second assist on Dohner’s goal.
Utica capped off the scoring at 12:24 as Osowski redirected a shot from Dohner for her second of the year. Senior Veronique Lortie (Chambly, Quebec/Berkshire School) also assisted on the play.
Reilly stopped all 26 shots she faced and held the Continentals scoreless on six power play opportunities. Hamilton’s Sam Walther totaled 18 saves in the loss.
The Pioneers have now won three in a row and five of their last six. UC will have nearly two weeks off before taking on local rival, Morrisville State in the 6th annual gold ribbon game for childhood cancer awareness. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 9 at nearby Clinton arena.
