Utica, NY (3/3/14) - Senior Jordan Hobaica of the Utica College men’s ice hockey team was named the College’s Male Athlete of the Week Monday for his performance on the ice on Sunday.
The senior forward scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Manhattanville on Sunday in the ECAC Men's West Conference Tournament semifinals. The goal was his fifth of the year as he raised his point total to seven (five goals, two assists). It was his first career game-winning goal. In 101 career games, he has 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists).
The Pioneers, winners of six of their last seven games, improved to 16-6-4 overall on the year and they are advancing to the ECAC West Championship game for the third time in program-history (2005, 2006, 2014). UC had not won a Conference Tournament game in seven years headed into Sunday’s contest. The last time UC advanced to the Conference Tournament finals was back in 2006 when they beat Manhattanville in the semifinals, but lost to Elmira in the championship game by the score of 3-2. The 2006 championship game was the last time Utica and Elmira met in the post season.
Elmira defeated third-seeded Hobart 5-3 on Saturday night to advance to next weekend's championship game. The Pioneers went 2-1 in three games against Elmira during the regular season. All three regular season games between Utica and Elmira were decided by one goal.