WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes University Women's Ice Hockey team was back in action on Sunday afternoon, sweeping the weekend series against Arcadia University with a 5-3 victory in front of the home crowd. 

Powered by a hat trick performance by Nina Hudakova (Košice, Slovakia/Hoosac Prep School), the Colonels improved to 11-1-1 (9-1-1) this season, while Arcadia fell to 8-4-2 (6-3-1).

The first period began with Arcadia applying heavy pressure in the offensive zone, with the Colonels having a number of scoring opportunities as well. The Knights opened the scoring at 13:58 when Kianna Saillant lit the lamp to give the visitors the lead. 

However, the tide would turn when Wilkes scored two goals in 17 seconds to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Olivia Lindberg (Stockholm, Sweden) scored her first goal for the Blue and Gold at 17:25, after finding the puck on the rebound. Hudakova scored her first goal of the game at 17:42, sending the Colonels into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. 

The back-and-forth game continued as Arcadia scored the equalizer with three-and-a-half minutes left in the second period. Chloe Makinson posted the tally as the Knights made it 2-2 on the power play. Late on in the middle frame, the Colonels answered back when Megan Bell (Waterloo, ON/St. David Catholic) made it a 3-2 contest with under a minute left in the second period. 

Again, it would be the Arcadia power play that would have a say as the Knights made it 3-3 with a goal from Haylee Kos. From there however, Hudakova would make the third period her own as she scored her second and third goals of the afternoon, propelling the Colonels to a hard-fought to a ninth-straight win in conference play. 

Hudakova's hat trick was the fourth in program history. She became the second player in Wilkes women's ice hockey program history to record a three-goal game. 

In goal for the Colonels, Audrey Milne (London, ON) stopped 20 shots en route to the victory. Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON/) finished with three points, putting up assists on all three of Hudakova's goals. Renee Ng (Hong Kong, China/Mount Academy) led the team with eight shots on goal. 

For Arcadia, Gabby Meger made 35 saves in the loss. Kos led the team with two points, adding an assist to go along with her goal. Saillant led the team with five shots on goal.

The Colonels return to action on Friday, Jan. 16 with an away contest against Neumann University. Puck drop against the Knights is slated for 6:00 p.m. in Aston, Pa.