The Utica College men's hockey team lost to visiting and nationally-ranked No. 6 Elmira College 8-1 in ECAC Men's West Conference play Saturday night in front of 2,282 fans at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Five different Soaring Eagles tallied at least two points and they were led by Rick Acorn, who netted two goals and added two assists on the evening.

The Soaring Eagles (9-2) have now won eight straight contests and sit atop the conference standings with a perfect 6-0 record in divisional play. The Pioneers (4-5-2, 2-3-1 ECAC West), who were missing several players due to injury, have lost two in a row headed into Tuesday night's contest against visiting and nationally-ranked No.1 Oswego State at 7 p.m.

Elmira opened up a 5-0 lead over the course of the first 25 minutes of play behind goals from Brendan Sanders, Rick Acorn, Greg Moore, Andrew Wilcox and John Clewlow.

The Pioneers answered in the 12 minute of the second period when senior defender David Burkholder netted the lone goal of the contest for UC after he ripped a slap shot from the point that ricocheted off the glove of Elmira goalie Casey Tuttle and into the back of the net. Burkholder's first goal of the season was assisted by freshman Kyle Zobler and sophomore Tim Coffman.

Elmira went on to net three unanswered goals in the third period to seal the victory. Acorn added his second of the night, before Jack Day and Andrew Wilcox closed out the scoring for the Soaring Eagles.

UC freshman goalie Pat Dunn, who replaced Anthony Luckow in the first period, stopped 19 shots in his collegiate debut, while Tuttle made 20 saves in net for Elmira.

Elmira outshot the Pioneers 29-21 on the evening and also went 3-for-6 on the power play.

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