The Utica College men's hockey team defeated visiting Lebanon Valley 6-5 in ECAC Men's West Conference play Friday night in front of 3,011 fans at the Aud. Freshman Josh Schmitt netted one goal and added two assists for the Pioneers, while classmate Eric Peterson tallied a game-high three assists. The Pioneers built a 6-2 lead headed into the third period and it proved to be just enough as they allowed three goals in the final stanza.
Utica has defeated the Dutchmen in 18 consecutive meetings dating back to January 26, 2002 and the Pioneers are now 19-1 all-time against Lebanon Valley. UC has defeated Lebanon Valley more times than any other team in program-history.
With the win the Pioneers snapped a four game slide and improved to 7-10-3 overall and 3-6-1 in conference play. LVC dropped to 0-21 on the year.
The Pioneers allowed an early goal but responded quickly and knotted the score at 1-1 at the 4:25 mark of the first period. Freshman Evan Chlanda's seventh goal of the season came off a rebound after Peterson's initial shot was saved by Dutchmen goalie Rich Drazin.
UC would tack on two more goals in the final five minutes of the first period. Sophomore Soichiro Omi netted his first goal of the season off assists from Brian Gibbons and Kregg Guestin at the 15:33 marker. Senior assistant captain Sean McKevitt added an even strength goal, his fifth of the year, with just under two minutes to go in the opening period to give UC a 3-1 lead.
LVC struck early again in the second period to cut the UC lead to 3-2, but the Pioneers responded again with three straight goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead headed into the third. Sophomore Tim Coffman netted his team-best 16th goal of the year in the ninth minute. Schmitt tallied his lone goal of the evening on the power play in the 12th minute, before senior Jeff Pappalardi added the eventual game-winner in the 14th minute.
The Dutchmen would not go away easy and scored three unanswered goals in the third period but they ran out of clock to play with as the Pioneers earned the 6-5 win. LVC's Daniel Dempsey scored two of the Dutchmen's three third period goals.
Utica senior goalie Anthony Luckow stopped 12 shots before being replaced by freshman Adam Dunn with 13 minutes to go in the contest. Dunn stopped four shots in just his second collegiate game. Drazin made 28 saves in net for Lebanon Valley.
These two teams meet again on Saturday night at the Aud to complete the season series. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. The contest marks the final regular season home game of the year for Utica. The Pioneers last four games come on the road at Manhattanville and Hobart.
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