UTICA, N.Y.— No. 10 Utica scored three times in the third period to salvage a weekend split against visiting Buffalo State with a 4-2 victory today in an ECAC West Contest.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Utica – 4, Buffalo State – 2
LOCATION:  Memorial Auditorium – Utica, NY
RECORDS: Utica (17-7-1/13-4-1), Buffalo State (18-7-0/12-6-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Maddie Toczek (N. Tonawanda/Starpoint) and Missy Mallon (Amherst, NY/Amherst) scored for Buffalo State. 
• Utica opened the scoring 5:04 into the game, but Toczek evened the score just 33 seconds later with assists from Erin Gehen (West Seneca, NY/W. Seneca West) and Nikki Kirchberger (Buffalo, NY/W. Seneca West).
• After a scoreless second period, the Pioneers reclaimed the lead midway through the final frame.  Buffalo State had a quick reply again when Mallon netted her eighth of the season just 23 seconds later with assists from Christine Harris (Mountain Top, PA/Wyoming Seminary) and Brooke Krantz (Penticton, BC/Penticton).
• Utica pulled in front again with just 3:32 remaining and added another goal just over a minute later to seal the win.
• The Pioneers finished with a 36-22 advantage in shots.
• Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, CA/Arroyo) had 32 stops for Buffalo State.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Emily Coope, Gabrielle Schnepp, Elizabeth Dohner and Lauren Patterson all scored for Utica.
• Keira Goin made 20 saves in the win.

 
NOTEWORTHY

• Gehen moved into sixth place on Buffalo State's all-time scoring list with 48 points (24 goals and 24 assists) in just 50 career games.

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will host an ECAC West quarterfinal game for the first time in school history.  The Bengals are the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 Oswego on Saturday at 3 p.m.