#3 Castleton 5, #9 Utica 2 - Box Score

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Dec. 30, 2011) – Nationally-ranked No. 3 Castleton scored four goals in the first period en route to a 5-2 win over No. 9 Utica College in the opening game of the Cardinal Classic at the Stafford Ice Arena Friday.

The Pioneers lost their first non conference contest of the season and will now take on Babson at 1 p.m. Saturday in the consolation contest.  Bason dropped a 5-0 decision against No. 5 Plattsburgh in the tournament nightcap. 

With just 33 seconds gone in the game, Utica (8-4-0, 1-3-0 ECAC West) drew a penalty to give the Spartans an early power play. Castleton (11-1-0, 7-1-0 ECAC East) wasted no time as Nick Lazorko scored his 13th of the year from Tyler Atkins and Josh Harris. The Spartans tallied two more power-play goals in the period, one from Dan Bell at 4:49 and another from Colin Murray at 7:03, to give Castleton an early three-goal lead.

Bell scored his second of the night at 13:14 of the first period, burying a rebound off of a Chris Wieland shot. Reid Lesswing also picked up an assist on the goal.

After a strong opening period from the Spartans, Utica was able to grab momentum in the second and maintain control through the period. The Pioneers held a 21-4 advantage in shots in the middle period but could not cash in any of their opportunities.

Utica's Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School) broke up the shutout at the 15:50 mark of the third period with his first of the year from Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and George Lotito (Staten Island, NY/NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)). After pulling goaltender Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)), the Pioneers netted an extra-attacker goal from Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) with 1:56 left to cut the Castleton lead to 4-2.

The Spartans answered back at 19:09 with an empty-net goal by Justin Alonzo to secure their spot in the Cardinal Classic championship game tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Utica help a 44-24 edge in shots on goal. The Spartans went 3-for-4 in their power-play opportunities while the Pioneers were 0-for-6.

Erick Cinotti was stellar in the Castleton net making 42 stops to improve to 6-1-0. Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) got the start for Utica and suffered the loss after allowing four goals in the first 13:14. Smith recorded 12 saves in the final 45:50.