UTICA, N.Y. – It was a tremendous defensive display on the ice Friday night as the Wilkes women's ice hockey team frustrated No. 8 Utica's offense. The Colonels brought a scoreless tie through overtime to collect a UCHC point before dropping the shootout at the Utica University Nexus Center.
 
The Colonels moved to 2-2-1 overall and 0-2-1 in the UCHC. The Pioneers remained undefeated in regulation this season at 4-0-1 and jumped to 2-0-1 in conference play.
 
Wilkes goaltender Audrey Milne (London, ON) was tested right away, making a trio of saves to keep the game scoreless.

The Colonels responded with a flurry of their own offensive pressure Sabrina Kotlarczyk (Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, QC) rattled off a shot before Rachel Morey (Buffalo, WY/) recorded three of her own. The Utica goaltender Angela Hawthorne protected her crease well and managed to freeze the puck to stop the Wilkes momentum.
 
The teams traded offensive chances for the duration of the first frame, but neither team was able to find the back of the net after 20 minutes of play.
 
The Pioneers offense picked up the pace in the middle frame, firing 11 shots on net in a short period of play. Milne was up to the task yet again, stopping each chance.
 
Both goalies remained perfect after two periods, with the score still standing at 0-0.
 
Play opened up in the third period as both teams desperately searched for the go-ahead goal. Milne made a sprawling glove save on a wraparound attempt at 5:33 into the period to keep the Pioneers off the board. Neither team was able to convert in the remainder of the period, sending the game to a five-minute three-on-three overtime period.
 
Milne stood tall for the Colonels once again at 2:43 into extra time when she turned aside a breakaway attempt with her right pad.
 
The WIlkes defense was put to the test when Utica drew a penalty, sending them to the first man advantage of the game. The Colonel penalty kill was able to keep the Pioneer attack at bay and the teams skated through the remainder of the brief overtime still knotted at 0-0.
 
At the conclusion of overtime, each team was awarded one point. The game then moved to a shootout to determine who would secure the third and final point of the evening.
 
Hawthorne was successful in stopping bids by Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY), Rissa Brazeau (Timmins, ON) and Amanda Spreadbury (Suwanee, GA), while Erica Sloan of Utica was finally successful in beating Milne to win the extra point for the Pioneers.
 
Lily Zingaro (Collingwood, ON), Morey and Kotlarczyk shared the team lead in shots with three each. Morey went 12-18 at the dot, while Milne posted a 54-save shutout in the contest.
 
Carly Stefanini registered eight shots for the Pioneers, followed by Erica Sloan who had six. Maggie Rylot went 9-14 on faceoffs and Hathorne made 22 saves of her own in the shutout victory for Utica.
 
The Colonels return to action Saturday afternoon when they finish the two game road trip at Utica. Pick drop is slated for 2:00 p.m.