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Utica, N.Y. (11/24/2010) – The Utica College men's hockey team is set to host nationally-ranked No. 10 Amherst College in a non conference contest at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Saturday night. The Pioneers (5-3, 1-2 ECAC West), who enter game four of a five game home stand, look to snap a two game losing streak as they host the Lord Jeffs (2-0, 2-0 NESCAC) at 7 p.m. Tickets at the door are $5 for adults and $2 for non-Utica College students. UC students, faculty and staff are free with valid identification.

The Pioneers began the season with four straight wins but have faced recent woes, losing three out of four games, with the three losses coming against traditional power's Elmira, Oswego and Neumann. Utica hopes to turn the tides on Saturday against the Lord Jeffs, who boast wins against NESCAC foes Wesleyan and Trinity. Amherst will enter Saturday's game at the Aud fresh off its home-opener against nationally-ranked No. 11 Manhattanville on Friday night.

UC, which averages 3,324 fans per home contest this season, is currently led by junior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) and sophomore forward Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)). Coffman leads the team with 12 points this season on three goals and nine assists, while Chlanda ranks second on the team with four goals (two game-winners) and seven assists.

The Pioneers youth has certainly come to play this season and seven of their top ten scorers are freshmen. The young group of first year players is guided by forward Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) who has ten points on five goals (team-high) and five assists.

Utica currently features a two goalie system with freshman Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) and classmate Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) exchanging starts over the course of the first eight games. Therrien and Smith look to bounce back this weekend after allowing 15 goals over the course of the last four games. Therrien has a .904 save percentage on one shut out in five starts, while Smith has a 3-1 overall record and a 2.09 goals against average in four appearances.

After Amherst the Pioneers will close out their five game home stand against Manhattanville, on Friday, Dec. 3, before opening up a seven game non conference stretch. Four of those non conference games will be on the road, including the second of a two game season series against nationally-ranked No. 2 Oswego on Dec. 10.

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