Box Score

Geneva, N.Y. (11/5/2010) - The Utica College men's hockey team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and fended off a Hobart rally as the Pioneers won 3-2 in their ECAC Men's West Conference opener at the Geneva Recreation Complex Friday night. Sophomore Eric Peterson (Newton, NH/Valley (EJHL)) and freshman Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) each netted one goal and added one assist to pace the Pioneers (4-0, 1-0 ECAC West).

“What a great way to open up conference play,” said tenth year Head Coach Gary Heenan. “They gave us a bit of a scare towards the end but we had great goaltending all night and our guys came out flying in the first two periods.”

Utica was outshot 32-26 on the evening but freshman goalie Nick Therrian stopped 30 shots on his way to a one goal victory over the Statesmen (0-1, 0-1 ECAC West).

UC opened up a 3-1 lead midway through the second period after Peterson scored what would be the game-winner at 11:40 off assists from Santiago and freshman Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)). Hobart added a goal 7:58 into the third period but it was not enough as the Pioneers remained perfect on the season.

Sophomore defender Robert Etts (Smithtown, NY/Hitmen (EJHL)) gave Utica a 1-0 lead in the first period when he netted his first goal of the season 14:28 into the contest off an assist from classmate Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) and freshman Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)).

Santiago gave UC a commanding 2-0 lead 5:30 into the second period off assists from Gaffney and Peterson. The home team answered 3:20 later when Bobby Hannah netted Hobart's first goal of the season to cut the UC lead to 3-1.

Peterson would score the game-winner at 11:40 and Hobart added a third period power-play goal but the Pioneers held the Statesmen scoreless over the course of the final 12:02 to earn the victory.

The Pioneers, who are off to a program-best 4-0 start, head to Elmira College for a key conference match up on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

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