The Utica College men's hockey team dropped its first home contest of the season, 6-3, against visiting Potsdam State in front of 2,939 fans at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Friday night. The Pioneers failed to convert on six power-play chances, including a 3-on-5 opportunity midway through the second period, and the Bears were able to net four goals in the final two periods to earn the non conference victory.
With the loss the Pioneers fall to 3-3-1 overall on the year, while the Bears have now won three straight games and improved to 5-4 overall.
Potsdam jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with two goals, 1:55 apart, in the first five minutes of the contest. Nick Leigh and Fraser Smith each scored one goal to give the Bears the early lead.
Utica fired right back with two goals before the end of the first period to knot the contest up at 2-2 prior to the first intermission. Freshman forward Evan Chlanda netted his team-best sixth goal of the season at the 15:42 mark before sophomore forward Russell Anderson tied the game up at 2-2 with 29 seconds to go in the first period of play.
The second period proved to be all Bears as Colin MacLennan gave Potsdam a 3-2 lead 2:24 into the period, before Spencer Noyes netted the game-winner, shorthanded, in the 15th minute of the second. Noyes goal came after a Pioneer turnover in their own zone and Noyes ripped a slap shot from just inside the blue line past UC goalie Justin Bolla on the lower left side.
Bolla finished the day with 23 saves, while his counterpart, Trevor O'Neill, added 28 saves in his fourth victory of the season.
Utica senior forward Matt Fitzgibbons netted a goal to open the third period of play to cut the Potsdam lead back to one, 4-3, but the Bears were able to add two insurance goals midway through the third period to seal the victory.
The Pioneers return to action Saturday night to complete the two game weekend series against Potsdam. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. Several live options will be available for fans at home including live audio (WIBX 950 AM), video and stats. Check www.ucpioneers .com for links to the live coverage.
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