UTICA, NY - The No. 13 Utica University women's hockey team started off the season with a commanding 6-2 victory of the Suffolk University Rams in its opening game of the Utica University Kickoff Tournament on Friday evening.
Carly Stefanini was the star of the contest with a hat-trick and four total points in the matchup. Stefanini was a factor all over the ice tonight for the Pioneers, setting the tone for the high-powered offense. Erica Sloan was finding teammates all night for three assists in the game. Maggie Rylott, Hailey Modlin, Tess Barrett, and Jordan Kowalski all tallied two points as well. The difference maker in this matchup was Utica's ability to take advantage of power play opportunities as the team seized four out of six chances.
The Pioneers came out firing right from the get-go in what was a chippy first period with six total penalties. Both teams accounted for three penalties in the first but it was Utica who would take advantage of the two power play chances it was awarded. Just five minutes into the first, Hailey Modlin netted the first goal of the season for the Pioneers. Amidst their first power play, the senior found the back of the net off a rebound from a shot by Erica Sloan. Sloan and Jordan Kowalski assisted on the goal. Just five minutes later in another power play opportunity, Carly Stefanini rifled a shot past the Suffolk goalie to increase the lead to two. Her goal was set up by a beautiful pass from Maggie Rylott. The Pioneers lead 2-0 after what was a busy first period where they outshot Suffolk 13-10.
The second began with an ultra-fast pace of play as there were no stoppages until almost eight minutes into the period. The puck stayed in the neutral zone for the majority of the first half of the period with only two shots on goal by Utica. The action ramped up quickly as Utica got back on the attack. Their steady offensive push would eventually lead to another goal. At the 13:59 mark, Maggie Rylott scored her first goal of the season, assisted by Carly Stefanini and Erica Sloan. Going into the third, the Pioneers established a commanding 3-0 lead with a 27-16 shot advantage.
The third period was an offensive onslaught with five total goals. After Suffolk scored the first goal of the period, Carolyn Whitney would shift the momentum for what was the shorthanded Pioneers. Whitney intercepted a puck in the neutral zone and took it all the way for a fancy back handed finish for an unassisted goal. From there, Carly Stefanini took back over the contest. The senior would go on to score two more goals in the period to give her a hat-trick on the night. The Rams would add one more goal of their own in the period as the contest finished 6-2 Utica.
No. 13 Utica (1-0-0) is set to take on No. 6 Adrian at 1 p.m. for the Utica University Kickoff Tournament championship at the Utica University Nexus Center.