WILKES-BARRE – Bella Kaczorowski (Anchorage, AK/NAHA White) scored early in the first and Nina Hudakova notched the game-winning goal in the second period as the Wilkes University women's ice hockey team recorded a 2-1 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) victory over visiting Alvernia University Friday night at the Toyota SportsPlex.
 
Wilkes improved to 13-4 overall and remain atop the MAC with an 11-2 mark. Alvernia dropped to 9-7-1 overall and 5-7-1 in league play.
 
Kaczorowski put Wilkes on the board first with a goal 3:13 into the first period thanks to a pass from Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY).
 
Alvernia responded later in the first frame as Sydney Bradley found the back of the net tying the game at one at the opening intermission.
 
From there it was Hudakova who played hero as the first year notched her eighth goal of the season with an assist from Iida Laitinen (Jyväskylä, Finland) 5:42 into the third period. The Wilkes defense anchored down and closed out the final 14 minutes of play without allowing the equalizer and Colonels goaltender Audrey Milne (London, ON) made five of her 20 total saves in the final period to preserve the important conference home win.
 
Wilkes outshot Alvernia 36-21 while dominating the faceoff circle winning 31-of-47 attempts.
 
The two teams are back in action in game two of the three game series tomorrow (Saturday) with puck drop set for 3:30 p.m. at the Toyota SportsPlex.