WILKES-BARRE – After going up two goals midway through the third period, the Wilkes women's ice hockey team surrendered two power play goals to Manhattanville College before ultimately dropping the game in overtime on Saturday afternoon at the Toyota SportsPlex in their first UCHC contest of the season.
 
The Colonels' record moved to 2-1-0 on the season and picked up an overtime point in the UCHC standings, opening conference play at 0-1-0. The Valiants kicked off their 2023-24 campaign at 1-0-0 overall as well as in the UCHC.
 
Wilkes controlled a large portion of play in the first period, firing 10 shots on goal compared to Manhattanville's four. Each team was assessed a minor penalty in the first frame, however neither power play unit was able to capitalize on the man advantage. After 20 minutes, both teams returned to the dressing room looking for the game's first goal.
 
The Colonels struck first while on the penalty kill, as Sabrina Kotlarczyk (Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, QC) picked up a turnover deep in the Valiant zone and fired a shot past the Manhattanville goalie's right pad. Kotlarczyk's first collegiate goal came at 16:35 and gave Wilkes a 1-0 lead, which they would protect through the final 3:25 of the second period.
 
Amanda Spreadbury (Suwanee, GA) would double the Blue and Gold's lead at 6:51 into the third when she ripped a shot to the top right corner of the net, beating the goaltender and increasing the Wilkes lead to 2-0. Abigail Barcless (Hamilton, NJ/) and Kayli Dubé both picked up helpers on Spreadbury's second goal of the season.
 
Manhattanville answered back on the power play less than two minutes later when Grace Felicio slid a cross-ice pass to Gabrielle Cox, who buried a one-timer to put the Valiants on the board. Felicio and Grace Genest were both credited with assists on the play at 8:32.
 
Manhattanville would strike again on the power play at 11:54. Cox centered a pass to Annie Niedermier, who was parked in the slot. Niedermier chipped a shot over Audrey Milne's (London, ON) pad and evened the score at 2-2 with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation time.
 
After 60 minutes, the game was still deadlocked at two goals apiece. This sent both teams to a five-minute sudden death overtime period to determine who would receive an extra point in the UCHC standings.
 
Wilkes was penalized immediately after the first faceoff of overtime, sending Manhattanville to their ninth power play of the day. The Valiants worked quickly, cycling the puck through the Colonels' zone before Felicio netted her first goal of the season to win the game at 0:42 into overtime.
 
Kotlarczyk and Spreadbury potted goals for the Colonels while recording one and six shots respectively. Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK/) led the team with eight shots, while Barcless and Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON) each made two blocks. Milne stopped 17 of the 20 shots she faced.
 
Felicio (1 G, 2 A) and Genest (3 A) both collected three points on the afternoon for Manhattanville. Catrina Chinetti led all Valiant players with five shots on goal as Franny Gerardi made 36 saves in the overtime victory.
 
Wilkes returns to action on Sunday when they play the second half of a two-game series with Manhattanville College. Puck drop at the Toyota SportsPlex is set for 3:30 p.m.