Utica 4, Wentworth 1 - Box Score

Boston, Mass. (1/15/2010) – The nationally-ranked No. 11 Utica College men's hockey team wrapped up its non conference schedule Sunday afternoon with a convincing 4-1 win over host Wentworth Institute of Technology. The Pioneers have now won five in a row and improved to 13-4 while securing their best non conference record in program-history.

Utica outshot the home team 39-19 and took a 3-0 lead over the course of the first 27:55 of the contest. Junior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) got the Pioneers on the board midway through the first period when he scored his eighth goal of the season, unassisted, to give UC a 1-0 lead.

Freshman defender Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) netted the eventual game-winner 6:05 into the second period and classmate Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) gave UC a commanding 3-0 lead just 1:50 later when he tallied his ninth goal of the season. Sophomore defender Robert Etts (Smithtown, NY/Hitmen (EJHL)) assisted on Hertz's goal.

Wentworth's Cameron Gibson made the game interesting early in the third period but Utica sophomore Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) eventually seal the victory with an empty net goal with under a minute to go.

Freshman goalie Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) made 18 saves to earn his seventh win of the season while Chris Azzano added 35 saves in net for Wentworth.

Utica will now open up a stretch of eight straight ECAC Men's West games to close out its regular season schedule. UC will travel to Elmira on Friday night looking to rebound from an early season loss to the Soaring Eagles. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.

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