UTICA, N.Y. – The Wilkes University women's ice hockey team kicked off the new year in style, bouncing tournament host Utica University from the Utica Kick-Off Tournament 3-1 at the Utica University Nexus Center Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes improves to 9-1 on the season with their sixth win in a row, while Utica falls to 3-7 after their fifth consecutive loss.

The Colonels opened the scoring early, as Chayce Hyndman (Mountain, ON/) lit the lamp just five minutes into the contest, taking advantage of a Pioneer turnover scooped up by Gianna Pacilio (Franklinville, NJ/). In the second period, Drew Hayhurst (Breckenridge, CO/New Hampton School) doubled the lead after a pass from Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON/) found its way behind the Pioneer goaltender and to the waiting stick of the first-year defender.

Utica got on the board first in the third period with a power play strike of their own, before Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY/) put the game away with a strike in the top-left corner of the net to put Wilkes up 3-1 with five and a half minutes to play.

Three different Colonels lit the lamp, with Nina Hudakova (Košice, Slovakia/Hoosac Prep School) picking up two assists on the day. Ferry and Renee Ng (Hong Kong, China/Mount Academy) led all Colonels with four shots each, with the former going 8-12 in the faceoff circle. Between the pipes, Audrey Milne (London, ON) made 31 saves including a 15-save second period.

Grace Joscelyn was the lone goalscorer for Utica, while Maya Jerome and Elliana Lasher led all players with five shots each. In goal, Alex Venning made 24 saves.

Wilkes will now play the winner of the other semifinal matchup tomorrow as they face SUNY Cortlandin a rematch of the Colonels' season-opener. Puck drop for that game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.