Utica, NY (1-23-12) – Sophomore goalie Evan Smith, of the nationally-ranked No. 11 Utica College men’s hockey team, was named the College’s Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 22, 2012.
Smith registered 51 stops in the crease this past weekend against national powers Elmira and Amherst. On Friday, the net minder made 39 saves as UC tied nationally-ranked No. 11 Elmira, 2-2, in front of 3,372 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. On Saturday, he posted his first collegiate shutout with 12 saves as Utica blanked nationally-ranked No. 6 Amherst College, 3-0, in front of 2,873 at “The Aud”.
On the season, Smith is 7-3-1 overall including a 0-3-1 mark in ECAC West play and his goals against average of 1.98 ranks him tenth nationally. He currently has 271 saves and a save percentage of .922, good enough for 24th in the nation.
The Pioneers are currently 11-5-1 overall and 1-3-1in the ECAC Men’s West Conference. UC returns to the ice Friday as it hosts Hobart College (7 p.m.) in conference action at “The Aud”.
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