UTICA, NY- For the second day in a row, the Utica College women’s hockey team used a third period goal to down visiting Morrisville State 3-2 in the Pioneers’ fifth annual Gold Ribbon Game for childhood cancer awareness. UC is now 5-0 all-time in the Gold Ribbon Game.
During the game, both teams wore special edition gold ribbon uniforms that were auctioned off to help support the family of Will Linscott, a 14 year old from Frankfort who is battling Leukemia. With the jersey auction and donations, the Pioneers were able to raise a record $10,031 for the Linscotts. UC has now raised $23,032 over the last five years for local children who are battling cancer.
Utica jumped out to a quick start as junior Carlie Smith (Grimsby, Ontario/St. Catharine’s Chaos) scored her first goal of the season just 1:37 into the contest. Elizabeth Dohner (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) and Taylor Osowski (Highlands Ranch, CO/Colorado Selects) assisted on the play.
The Mustangs responded with two goals in three minutes halfway through the period. First, Kaitlyn Schlake netted her fifth of the season, off assists from Maddison Devlin and Kahnekaró:roks McComber. Then, Vanessa Klimpke scored her team-leading tenth of the season off a feed from Renee Stevenson.
The Pioneers evened the score at 5:34 of the second period off the stick of sophomore Kayla Dion (Colchester, VT/Boston Shamrocks ). With Utica on the power play, Dion skated down into the slot, took a centering feed from classmate Lauren Patterson (Burlington, Ontario/Oakville) and fired a low shot between the legs of Morrisville goalie Renee Schmaltz for her second of the year. Senior Gabrielle Schnepp (Northville, MI/Belle Tire) was also credited with an assist on the play.
The score remained even at 2-2 until 14:21 of the third period as senior Emily Coope (Phoenix, AZ/Colorado Tigers) found the back of the net for her second of the year off assists from Patterson and Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario/Southwest Wildcats).
Senior Keira Goin (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Hotchkiss School) made 27 saves in the win, while Schmaltz had 21 saves in the loss. The Pioneers improve to 5-4 overall, while Morrisville drops to 9-2.
UC will return to action on Sunday, December 11 as it travels to Lebanon Valley for a non-conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
