UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's hockey team took the first game of the weekend series vs Stevenson in commanding fashion with a 5-1 win over the Mustangs for its fourth consecutive victory. 
 
Saturday afternoon was historic as it was the team's first game at its new home in the brand new Nexus Center.
 
The first period finished scoreless as Utica held a 15-7 shot advantage. Angela Hawthorne made several great saves amidst a Stevenson powerplay to hold off the Mustangs attack before Utica got back to full strength in the period. Georgiana Santullo had a backhander go off the crossbar that just missed from being the game's first goal. Maggie Rylott did well creating several opportunities for the Pioneers as her speed and playmaking was phenomenal.
 
The offense got going for Utica in the second period as they put four goals on the scoreboard.
 
At the 4:48 mark, Giorgiana Santullo got the Pioneers offense going in the second period as during a penalty kill she intercepted a pass in front of Stevenson's goal and netted an unassisted goal for the first score of the night. Stevenson would respond quickly as Emily Brightbill scored at the 6:36 mark to even the game at 1-1. 
 
After the Mustangs tied it up, the Pioneers took control scoring three unanswered goals. Carolyn Whitney got the Pioneers back on top at the 9:55 mark as she found the back of the net from close range off a great pass from Callie McLaughlin for her second goal of the season. Abby Lillis scored the next goal for the Pioneers at the 14:28 mark off perfect passes from Madison Novotny and Maggie Rylott to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead. Erica Sloan netted the Pioneers fourth goal at the 17:41 mark in the second period off a rebound on a shot from Carly Stefanini to increase the lead to 4-1. 
 
At the 8:00 minute mark in the third period, Utica tacked on another one as Carly Stefanini scored her first goal of the year off an assist from Santullo to make the Pioneers lead 5-1. The Pioneers outshot the Mustangs 7-6 in the period.
 
Georgiana Santullo led the Pioneers with three points in the matchup. Carly Stefanini and Abby Lillis had two points apiece and Erica Sloan, Callie McLaughlin, Madison Novotny, Carolyn Whitney and Maggie Rylott all had a point in the game as well. Angela Hawthorne earned the win in goal for Utica as she saved 19/20 shots in the win. Utica collectively outshot Stevenson 36-20 on the night.

Utica (4-1-1) (4-0-1 UCHC) will host Stevenson again tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the Nexus Center.