No. 12 Women's Hockey Tops Lebanon Valley in UCHC Quarterfinal – Utica University Athletics

UTICA, NY – The Utica University women’s hockey team defeated Lebanon Valley College 4-0 in the UCHC Quarterfinals on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) led the way with two goals including a short-handed one. Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) each scored in the win as well while Sloan, Stefanini, Rylott, and Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) led the team with two points each. Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) recorded two assists while Sloan, Stefanini and Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) all assisted at least one goal. 

 

In goal for Utica, Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) recorded 13 saves while securing her sixth shutout and 15th win of the season. The Pioneer defense played terrific and clogged many passing lanes and was able to break up scoring opportunities. 

 

The first period featured plenty of action as the teams were seen battling back and forth fighting to gain control of the puck in the attacking zone. The game did not have its first stoppage until over nine minutes in. Utica outshot Lebanon Valley 14-6 in the period with Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) leading the way with three shots a piece. 

 

Utica would go on to break through first in the opening period. A takeaway at center ice opened up room for a beautiful give and go breakaway between Georgiana Santullo (Woburn, MA/Boston Shamrocks/Woburn High School) and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel). Sloan dished the puck to Santullo who took it all the way near the crease before Santullo went back to a crashing Sloan who capitalized for a 1-0 lead at 18:09. Santullo and Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) assisted the goal and the Pioneers took a 1-0 edge into the second intermission. 

 

The Pioneers tacked on two more goals in the second period. 50 seconds into the period, Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) scored a shorthanded goal after rebounding a Carolyn Whitney (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) shot. Then at 9:27, Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) found an opening from the wing off of a Sloan pass to push the game to 3-0. 

 

Utica dominated in shots and controlled the puck in the attacking zone for the majority of the third period. The Pioneers had plenty of opportunities to score and Maggie Rylott (Cobourg, Ontario/West Northumberland) found the back of the net again at the 15:28 mark for her second goal of the game. The goal was Carolyn Whitney’s (Raleigh, NC/Milbrook School) second assist of the game and Utica held on for a 4-0 win.

 

Utica (21-2-3, 17-1-2 UCHC) will host third seeded Manhattanville College in the UCHC Semifinals on Saturday. Puck drop from the Nexus Center is TBD.

 

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