Sophomore forward Tim Coffman netted a goal just 1:28 into the contest and thousands of teddy bears began to fly on Saturday night. The Pioneers 4-4 tie against Castleton State was a part of the fifth annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss. UC held a 4-3 advantage until the Spartans netted the equalizer with 28 seconds to go in the contest and both teams were held scoreless in the five minute overtime period. Coffman, who has a team-high 10 goals this year, led the way for UC with two goals on the evening.
The Pioneers head into the semester break with a 4-6-3 overall record, while Castleton State heads back to Vermont with a 1-5-2 record.
Fans received free admission to the game if they brought a stuffed animal and after Coffman's goal fans threw the stuffed animals out onto the ice for collection by the players and volunteers. The stuffed animals will be donated to local charities for distribution to local children through the holiday season.
The Pioneers held a 1-0 lead until Castleton's Josh Harris knotted the score at 1-1 in the third minute of the second period. Harris's second goal of the season was assisted by Justin Alonzo and Tyler Atkins.
UC took a 2-1 lead at 11:49 of the second period when senior assistant captain Sean McKevitt scored a goal off a rebound. Brian Gibbons sent in the initial shot that was saved by Spartan goalie Arthur Hollinger before McKevitt cleaned up the rebound for his second goal of the season. Vincent Nucci was also credited with an assist on the goal.
Five goals highlighted the third period of play. Justin Alonzo tied the game up at 2-2 when he scored his second goal of the season off assists from Josh Harris and Tyler Atkins.
Castleton then took a 3-2 lead just under two minutes later when Omar Pacha scored his second goal of the season on the power play. Atkins and Kirk Bolduc assisted Pacha at the 12:21 mark of the third period.
42 seconds later UC tied the contest up at 3-3 when Coffman netted his second of the night after stealing the puck in the Spartan zone and sending in a wrist shot from ten feet out. UC took a 4-3 lead at 15:05 when Eric Peterson tipped home his sixth goal of the season on the power play off assists from Kregg Guestin and Gibbons.
Josh Harris scored the game-tying goal on a 6-on-4 power play after the Spartans pulled their goalie with under a minute to go in the contest.
Utica net minder Anthony Luckow stopped 25 shots on the day, while Hollinger totaled 33 saves for the Spartans.
UC outshot Castleton State 37-29. The Pioneers went 1-for-8 on the power play compared to the Spartans 3-for-5 effort with a one man advantage.
The Pioneers return to action on Jan. 9th when they host Cortland State for a non conference contest at the Aud. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. Live video and stats will be available at www.ucpioneers.com.
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