#10 Utica 3, #6 Elmira 3 - OT - Box Score

Rochester, N.Y. (2/19/2011) – The nationally-ranked No. 10 Utica College men's hockey team battled from an early 3-0 deficit to earn 3-3 tie against No. 6 Elmira College in front of a standing room only crowd of 3,966 fans (school-record) at the 4,000 seat Utica Memorial Auditorium Saturday night. Freshman Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) led UC with two points, while Clinton native Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School) tallied the game-tying goal for UC in the third period of the Pioneers final regular season contest. 

Utica, which was ranked third in the first NCAA East Regional rankings released Tuesday, will travel to Neumann University next Saturday for a semi-final contest in the ECAC Men's West Conference Tournament. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. A win against Neumann on Saturday will certainly put the Pioneers in consideration for one of the four NCAA Tournament at-large bids. 

The Pioneers are now 17-7-1 overall and 6-5-1 in the ECAC West, while Elmira moved to 15-6-4 overall and 8-3-1 in the conference.

The Soaring Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over the course of the first 33 minutes of play behind goals from Jesper Strale, Matt Owczarczak and Regan MacLean.

Freshman Nick Geraci (Manalapan, NJ/Green Mountain (EJHL)) sparked the Pioneers' charge when he netted his fifth goal of the season to cut the Elmira lead to 3-1 at the 15:02 mark of the second period. Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) and Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) collected assists on UC's first goal of the game and that's when the momentum began to swing in the Pioneers' favor.

UC shot out of the gates in the third period when sophomore forward Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) drilled an even strength goal from the point, assisted by freshmen Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) and Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)), to bring the Pioneers within one goal, 3-2, at the 1:43 marker.

Freshman Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School) snuck in the game-tying goal, on the power-play, to knot the score at 3-3 with 7:22 to go in regulation. Gaffney was credited with his second assist of the night and Josh Schmitt (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo (OPJHL)) also assisted the goal from the point.

The Pioneers had a few good chances in the five minute overtime but both goalies stood strong as the two conference foes skated to a 3-3 tie. 

Utica freshman goalie Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) stopped 29 shots and moved his record to 9-3-1 on the year. Elmira goalie Darren McDonald made 27 saves for the visitors.

Utica went 1-for-4 on the power-play while the Soaring Eagles were held scoreless with a one man advantage.  Elmira outshot UC 32-30 on the evening. 

                                                              --- www.ucpioneers.com ---