BUFFALO — Rachel Lenard’s (Orchard Park/Nardin) second period power-play goal was enough to lift Buffalo State to a 2-1 win over the No. 9 team in the country, Utica, this evening in an ECAC West game at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.
Lenard and Erin Gehen (West Seneca/West Seneca West) scored Buffalo State’s goals. Brooke Krantz (Penticton, BC/Penticton) assisted on both tallies while Viivi Vaattovaara (Veikkola, Finland/Hameenlinnan Lyseon Lukio) and Christine Harris (Mountain Top, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) each added an assist. Gehen got the scoring started 3:37 into the game. The junior tipped a shot from the point right on net and continued to follow her shot, slamming home the ensuing rebound for a 1-0, Bengal lead.Utica would answer less than five minutes later, as Meghan Power tied the game at one. The first period would end 1-1, with Buffalo State holding a slight 7-6 edge in shots.
The second period continued what was a very close game being played by both teams. With 1:39 left in the second, Lenard found herself collapsing to the net like the rest of the Bengals’ power-play unit. After Utica’s goalie made two nice saves, Lenard made sure the third time was the charm and hammered home the rebound to give Buffalo State a 2-1 lead. Utica started to put the pressure on in the third, outshooting Buffalo State, 7-1. While Utica was getting pucks to the net, Buffalo State’s defense made sure the shots were coming from a distance. Goalie Justine Silva (Baldwin Park, CA/Arroyo) turned aside all seven third period shots to preserve the 2-1 win. She finished the evening with 20 saves.
Buffalo State and Utica will be right back at it Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Buffalo State Ice Arena.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
