Utica College Hockey Falls to 3rd Period Surge

The Utica College Pioneers enjoyed a 4-2 lead one minute into the third period in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,815 fans on Saturday night; but, saw the victory slip away after 3 unanswered Nazareth goals.

After a sluggish first 20 minutes of play by both teams, the action took off just over three minutes into the second period as the league rivals put up five goals in a span of nine minutes.  The back and forth action aided the home team however as Utica edged a one-score lead, 3-2, headed into the final intermission.

Each score in the second period was answered with a quick reply as the initial four tallies were announced within a span of 1:20, showing a 2-2 tie just 5:03 into the second. Senior Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) horned the first for UC, at 3:43, followed by LaFosse, at 4:35, and then Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)), at 12:01, granting the Pioneers a 3-2 advantage headed into the final frame.

LaFosse put home his second power-play score of the night just 1:02 into the final period to cushion UC with a 4-2 lead however wouldn't be enough as the visiting Golden Flyers rattled off three-unanswered scores, two on man-up play, to quiet the crowd en route to victory.

Utica outshot Naz 28-22 on the night while winning 48-of-79 face-offs and converting 3-of-6 on the power-play but couldn't secure the win as UC slides to the bottom of ECAC play on the early season.

Utica is now 1-1-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the ECAC West.  They play on the road next weekend against Elmira and Hobart.  The Pioneers return home to the Aud on Friday, November 21st to host Neumann.