#12 Utica 2, #11 Elmira 2 (OT) -
Box Score
Utica, NY (1-20-12) - The nationally-ranked No. 12 Utica College men's hockey team tied nationally-ranked No. 11 Elmira College, 2-2, in front of 3,372 fans at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Friday night. The Pioneers were led by sophomore
Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School), who netted the go-ahead score in the second period for his third goal of the season.
The Pioneers moved their overall record to 11-5-1 and 1-3-1 in the ECAC Men's West Conference. UC is now 9-1-1 at the Aud this season and they avenged an early season, 3-1, loss to Elmira. The Soaring Eagles are now 11-5-2 overall and suffered their first blemish of the season in conference play (5-0-1 ECAC Men's West).
After a quiet first period with no goals or penalties, sophomore
Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)) gave UC a 1-0 lead at 5:59 on a power-play set-up by freshman
Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)) and junior
Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)). Just under six minutes later, at 11:50, the Soaring Eagles answered with an even-strength goal by Eric David, tying the match at 1-1. Hobaica, a Clinton, NY native, pushed UC to a 2-1 advantage at 16:34 as freshman
Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and sophomore
George Lotito (Staten Island, NY/NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)) set-up the even-strength score to give the Pioneers a 2-1 edge headed into the final period.
Following 17:00 minutes of scorelss action in the third, EC found the back of the net as John Clewlow netted his third season goal at 17:15 to send the contest into overtime.
In OT, neither squad managed to score, as UC earned a 3-2 shot advantage in the five minute extra frame.
Sophomore goalie
Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) stopped 39 shots and is now 6-3-1 on the season.
The Pioneers return to action Saturday night as they welcome nationally-ranked No. 6 Amherst College to the Aud for a 7 p.m. face-off.
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