The Oswego State women's ice hockey showed no regression after over a month layoff for the holidays, shutting out Utica College 2-0 on Friday night at the Marano Campus Center Arena. Oswego – ranked No. 8 in the latest USCHO.com poll – improves to 12-3-0 overall and 6-1-0 in the ECAC Women's West while the Pioneers drop to 7-5-0, 3-3-0.
After a scoreless first period, the Lakers needed just a 42-second span in the final three minutes of the middle period to capture the contest. At 17:05, junior Andrea Noss was able to slap the puck into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner. Julieanne White and Eryn Stewart were credited with assist on the tally.
Just 33 seconds later, Utica was whistled for interference and the Lakers took nearly no time in capitalizing. Senior Alli Ullrich sent a shot from the point and classmate Kendall Appelbaum was able to change the puck's flight off the crossbar and past the goal line for a power-play notch. Junior Olivia Ellis also had a helper on the play, along with Ullrich.
Mariah Madrigal was a wall in net for Oswego, stopping all 25 shots she faced from the Pioneers. It is the junior's fourth shutout of the season and seventh of her career as she elevates her record to 9-2-0.
Oswego finished the tilt 1-for-3 in extra-skater situations while stopping Utica on its only power-play chance of the night.
The Lakers will faceoff with the Pioneers again on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be played at the Memorial Auditorium in Utica.
