RYE, NY – Senior Sarah Sinning (Southold, N.Y./National Sports Academy) scored her 10th goal of the season, but the Manhattanville College women's hockey team dropped a UCHC contest to Utica Saturday afternoon, falling 3-1 at Playland Ice Casino.

Rose Pijaca (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) made 30 saves for Manhattanville (9-10-2, 6-5-1 UCHC), giving her 58 over the weekend series, but Utica (10-9-2, 5-5-2 UCHC), after going nearly 90 minutes without a goal between Friday's scoreless draw and the first period Saturday, scored three unanswered goals between the second and third periods in the win.

After Pijaca stopped two Meghan Power shots from point-blank range, Taylor Osowski found a partially open net on the rebound at 3:21 of the second period for the first goal of the weekend for either team. After Pijaca stopped the Pioneers' next five shots, Carlie Smith made it 2-0 Utica at 11:32. Manhattanville had two power play opportunities in the period, but Utica goaltender Bria Reilly turned away all eight shot attempts over the four-minute stretch.

Off a faceoff win in the Manhattanville defensive end, Kelly Critzer made it 3-0 Utica at 5:58 of the third period. Just over 90 seconds later, Sinning got Manhattanville on the board off assists from classmate Maeve O'Brien (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Fury) and junior Nicole Mensi (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Northwood School), who earned her 50th point as a Valiant.

The Pioneers kept Manhattanville at bay the rest of the way, holding the Valiants to just four shots over the final 12+ minutes while taking eight of their own.

The Valiants continue UCHC play next weekend with a two-game road series against Elmira, the consensus #3 team in D-III. Opening puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday night and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.