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UTICA, NY (11/15/11) - The nationally-ranked No. 7 Utica College men's ice hockey team travels to No. 12 Neumann University in Aston, Pa. for an ECAC West Conference match up on Saturday at 7 p.m. UC, winners of three in a row, is currently 5-1 overall (1-1 ECAC West) and it is coming off an impressive 4-2 victory over conference foe Hobart on Saturday night.

Neumann is 2-1 overall and, like Utica, is 1-1 in conference play after a win over Hobart and a loss to No. 11 Elmira College.  The Knights will have to get past Manhatanville College on Friday night before the Pioneers head to town with fresh legs from a full week off. Utica certainly has revenge on its mind after falling to Neumann in four meetings last season, including a 5-2 loss in the first round of the conference tournament. 

18 different Pioneers have registered at least one point through six games so far this season.  UC is led by sophomore Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)), who is the reigning conference player of the week, and senior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)).  Hertz leads the team with seven goals and he also has four assists, while Coffman has a team-best eight assists to go along with his three goals.

Goalies Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) and Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) have split time between the pipes as each has played in three games.  Therrien, who was named the conference's goalie of the week last week, holds a slight edge over Smith with a 3-0 record and a .938 save percentage.  Therrien ranks among the nation's leaders in save percentage (.938) and goals-against average (1.67).  Although if Coach Heenan sticks with his typical game plan fans can expect to see Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) in net as the Pioneers take on the Knights Saturday night. Smith is currently 2-1 overall and boasts a 2.68 goals against average.

Following the trip to Neumann - Utica will rest for 12 days before taking on host Manhattanville on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The following day the Pioneers will return home to the friendly confines of the Aud for a non conference meeting against Buffalo State at 6 p.m.

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