UTICA, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team suffered a series sweep after a 3-1 loss to Utica University on Saturday evening. With the loss, the Valiants drop to 9-8-1 overall on the season and 9-4-1 in UCHC play. 
 
The Pioneers held a 17-3 shot advantage through the first period, with neither team lighting the lamp during that time. Utica would have one strong opportunity during an early man advantage in the second minute of regulation, but they wouldn't seem to connect. 
 
Action would truly get started in the second period as seven penalties were given between the two teams so plenty of time to score during the power plays. Utica would once again outshoot Manhattanville, 23-4, and score their first goal of the night 43 seconds in the period. Maggie Rylott would find the back of the net off of assists from Carolyn Whitney and Ava Suda. They would add some insurance as Erica Sloan would score one herself with the help of Callie Mclaughlin and Carly Stefanini. The Valiants would then respond with an unassisted goal from Gabrielle Cox (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane High School), her 20^th of the season. At the end of the 11^th minute, Stefanini would add to her stat line and get a goal on the night dished from Tess Barrett and Hailey Modlin to get up, 3-1, going into the final 20 minutes. 
 
The final period of regulation would look very similar to the first. Only one-man advantage opportunity, this time for Manhattanville but no one on the offensive ice would be able to fire it past Utica's goalie, Angela Hawthorne. A game-high ten shots in the third for the Valiants, followed closely behind the Pioneers' 13. No other scoring would occur and the Valiants would be swept in the weekend series. 
 
Franny Gerardi (Yonkers, N.Y./Selects Academy) had an unbelievable performance in net for Manhattanville as she made 50 total saves, 20 in the second period alone and giving up just three goals. After a two-loss weekend, the senior goaltender drops to a 1.85 goals-against average while her .938 save percentage stays the same.  
 
Kerry Carr (New Hartford, N.Y./Millbrook School) fired a team-high six shots as Cox added four shots on the night, while Ciara Dauer (Winchester, MA/Worcester Academy) had two. 
 
Utica dominated the faceoff circle, winning 35 draws to Manhattanville's 19. Grace Felicio (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) led the team with seven draws, while Catrina Chinetti (Hyde Park, Mass./Boston Latin Academy) added six. 
 
The Valiants went 1-for-3 on power play opportunities with the lone goal of the day happening during the man advantage. On the other side of the ice, they went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, holding the Pioneers to12 shots. 
 
The Valiants will head back home and take to the Playland Ice Casino on Friday, Jan. 27 to face off with Nazareth College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.