PLATTSBURGH, NY- The Utica College women’s hockey team scored four straight goals to down nationally ranked No. 2/3 and second seed Elmira College, 5-1, in the semifinals of the ECAC West Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Stafford Ice Arena at Plattsburgh State. With the win, the Pioneers advance to the championship game on Sunday against the winner of the Plattsburgh-Oswego semifinal. Game time is scheduled 3 p.m.
The Pioneers (19-7-1) set a new program record for wins in a season (19). Utica is also advancing to the conference championship for the first time in ten years. Elmira drops to 21-4-1 on the year and is eliminated from the conference tournament.
Junior Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) got things going at 5:23 of the first period as she played the puck between the defender’s legs and fired a shot just inside the left post for her seventh of the season. Sophomore Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake) assisted on the play.
The Pioneers extended the lead with just two minutes remaining in the opening frame as classmate Victoria Pelton (Sterling Heights, MI/Belle Tire) netted a shorthanded goal for her fourth of the year. Pelton picked off a pass at center ice and skated in on a one-on-one. She pulled the puck around the defender and rifled a shot into the upper right hand corner to send UC into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Utica made short work of a power play opportunity just four minutes into the second stanza to go up 3-0. UC only needed eight seconds with the man advantage before junior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) put in a loose puck at the top of the crease for her 14th of the year. Senior Morgan Reed (Fort Myers, FL/Cushing Academy) and freshman Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) assisted on the play.
The Pioneers took a commanding 4-0 lead with 5:32 left in the period as a shot from the point was deflected in front and found its way into the back of the net. Coope was credited with her second of the game, while Husak picked up her second assist.
The Soaring Eagles were finally able to get on the board at 5:34 of the third as Johanna Eidensten redirected a shot from McKenna Farole for her seventh of the season. Kristin Chivers was also credited with an assist. The Pioneers responded just 1:37 later as Reed tipped in a shot from Husak for her team-leading 22nd of the year to cap off the scoring.
Goin finished with 29 saves in the win, while Kelcey Crawford and Kyle Nelson combined for 18 saves for Elmira. Utica was 1-for-4 on the power play and held Elmira scoreless on four power play chances.
