Box Score UTICA, NY – 2014 has been unkind, thus far, to the Valiants women's hockey team. Manhattanville suffered their second 4-1 loss in as many days, this time falling to the Pioneers of Utica College. 

After playing the first period to a 0-0 draw, the Pioneers were able to tally three goals in the second frame to put ample space between themselves and the Valiants.  Utica's freshman forward Victoria Pelton scoring two goals just 1:54 apart early in the frame gave the Pioneers breathing room which they used to control the play in the second period before sophomore forward Morgan Reed put in the third goal at the with just under seven minutes remaining in the period.

After taking a 3-0 lead into the second intermission, the third period was closely contested before Utica's junior forward Nicole Schwartz made the score 4-0 with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

Manhattanville's lone goal came off the stick of Michele Meggiolaro (Whippany, N.J./New Jersey Colonials (MAWHA)) as she played the role of spoiler, ruining the shutout of Utica's goaltender Jennifer Hamel with only 25 seconds remaining in the game.  Hammel finished the game with 26 saves on 27 shots while Manhattanville's Kirsten Shaughnessy (Le Center, Minn./LeSueur-Henderson St. Peter) totaled 20 saves on 24 shots.

The Valiants will look to regroup this week and prepare for their first home game of 2014 as they will take on Holy Cross this Friday evening at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford.