UTICA, NY--Utica (13-4-3/5-2-2), the No. 8-ranked team in the nation, defeated visiting Buffalo State (7-12-1/5-6), 6-3, tonight in an ECAC West contest at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Buffalo State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Jamie Overbeck's (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) third goal of the season. After three second period goals by the pioneers, Melissa Jeckovich (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) netted her fifth of the season to pull the Bengals within one. Utica proved too strong in the final frame, scoring three more, before Mary Cohen (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) completed the scoring for the Bengals.

Utica outshot Buffalo State, 45-13. Meredith Larsen (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) made 39 saves in the loss. Sam Simpson (Fairbanks, AK/W. Valley) added two assists for the Bengals.

Buffalo State will play at Utica again tomorrow at 2 p.m.