Host Utica College scored four unanswered goals in the opening eight minutes of the second period while holding Oswego State to its fourth shutout loss of the season in a 4-0 triumph in the opener of a key two-game ECAC Women's West series at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Froday, Feb. 6.

The win moved the Pioneers (10-8-2, 6-7-1 ECAC Women's West) into fourth place in the latest standings. Both Utica and Oswego came into the series tied for fifth place. Only the top six teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the league's postseason tournament.

Utica outshot the Lakers (8-10-1, 5-7-1 ECAC Women's West) 37-25, which included a 20-7 barrage in the second period in which they scored the game's first goal on a two-player advantage at the 39-second mark and added even-strength goals at 2:44, 5:21, and 8:05.

Sophomore goalie Emi Williams (Anchorage, AK/Anchorage Northstars) stopped 33 shots in a losing effort. Both teams will wrap up the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Utica.