UTICA, NY - The No. 8 Utica University women's hockey team followed up Friday's shootout win with a statement victory on Saturday, defeating the Wilkes University Colonels 7-1. The Pioneers improved to 5-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the UCHC.
Molly Pedone led a balanced offensive attack, energizing Utica with two goals on the afternoon.
Hailey Modlin, Carly Stefanini, Maggie Rylott, Sydney Mintz, and Callie McLaughlin all added goals in the contest. Emma Corbett provided two assists while 12 other Pioneers registered one apiece.
A night after breaking the program record for career shutouts, Angela Hawthorne was once again dependable, allowing only one goal, one that came on a Wilkes power play, on 16 total shots. Maddie Esposito also provided 20 shutout minutes between the pipes for Utica.
After not having any penalties called until overtime of last night's game, Utica drew two in the opening minute of Saturday's contest, giving them a 5-on-3 advantage. Wilkes goalie Audrey Milne held strong amidst this penalty kill, but she couldn't remain heroic for the rest of the period.
While making 54 saves last night and not allowing a goal until the shootout, Milne allowed three goals to get by her in the first period. The offensive onslaught was kicked off by Sydney Mintz, who scored her first intercollegiate goal just over six minutes into the opening frame. Angelina Garganese tallied her first intercollegiate point, assisting on the score.
Less than 30 seconds later, Molly Pedone would score a highlight-reel-worthy goal as she dangled the Wilkes goalie for an incredible breakaway score. She would later commit a penalty but would ultimately avenge herself by sneaking another goal between Audrey Milne's legs from close range with under four minutes to play in the first.
Wilkes' lone goal of the first came amidst a power play opportunity where Chayce Hyndman was set up for a perfect one-timer and converted with a rifling shot. This, at the time, made it a 2-1 game midway through the opening period.
The Pioneers kept pouring it on in the second, adding three more goals to up the score to 6-1. Early in the period, neither team could find any offense as they battled in the neutral zone. Angela Hawthorne took away a Wilkes scoring chance as she deflected away a shot on a 2-on-1 breakaway chance. In the latter half of the period, it was all Utica.
Callie McLaughlin netted her first goal of the season with a great shot from the right wing. The fourth goal of the night gave Utica all the momentum, propelling them to score two more before the buzzer sounded in the second. Carly Stefanini and Hailey Modlin continued their dominance on the offensive end this season, each scoring in the frame. Modlin's goal was Utica's second of the season during a penalty kill. The duo paces Utica in goals with five a piece through six games.
Maggie Rylott would tack on another goal in the third for good measure to up the team's lead to 7-1. Wilkes used three different goalies in the matchup, but to no avail as the Pioneers were able to score at least one on each goalie who entered the game.
Maddie Esposito served as the Pioneers goalie in the third frame and made seven saves.
Utica nearly doubled Wilkes in shots with a 45-23 advantage. Jordan Kowalski took a team high 14 faceoffs, winning nine of them as Utica won that department 28-25 collectively.
Utica will travel to Rye, NY next weekend for a two-game bout with UCHC opponent, Manhattanville College. Puck drop on Friday, November 17 is set for 7 p.m.