UTICA, N.Y. – The Casleton women's hockey team got an impressive performance from junior goaltender Katharyn Dembowski (Elkridge, Md.) but was unable to put the puck in net, falling to Utica 2-0 on Saturday evening at Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Dembowski made 39 saves for the Spartans but it wasn't enough as the team dropped to 0-1 on the season.

The Pioneers broke the ice at 16:58 in the first period when Meredith Tice (Hershey, Pa.) found the back of the net off dishes from junior's Meghan Willett (Worcester, Mass.) and Carmen Johnson (Falls Church, Va.) to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

Just under seven minutes into the second period Utica got an insurance goal as sophomore Brittany DelleChiaie (Leominster, Mass.) registered her second goal of the year, at 6:58, to give UC a 2-0 lead. 

Neither team converted on the power-play as the Spartans went 0-for-6 and the Pioneers, 0-for-5.  However, Utica outshot the visitors 41-10 on the afternoon.

Castleton returns to action on Sunday when they take on Cortland at 2 p.m.