Box Score

Utica 7, Nazareth 1 - Men's Hockey Final

Utica, NY (2/8/13)- Six different players scored to help the nationally-ranked No. 3/8 Utica College men's hockey team defeat visiting Nazareth College, 7-1, in ECAC West Conference action Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  Junior Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) netted one goal and added two assists, while sophomore Peter LaFosse (Merrimack, NH/Kimball Union Academy) totaled three helpers on the night. 

“We came out and played like we know we are capable of tonight.  It was important for us to get the first goal and set the tone for the game,” said Head Coach Gary Heenan, who now has 162 career victories under his belt.  “This is the type of game late in the year that can get away from you and it was important that we approached this one just as we have the rest.  Every game is the biggest game of the year right now and I don't expect that to change down the stretch.  Now we have a tough one on the road at Naz tomorrow.  They have a very good young team and I expect them to give us a tough game on their home ice.” 

The Pioneers opened the scoring at 4:56 of the first period as senior Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY/Merrimack (Hockey East)) netted his 12th of the season.  Morton picked up a loose puck in front and fired it home.  Seniors Eric Peterson (Newton, NH/Valley (EJHL)) and Cody Adams (Duncan, British Columbia/Plattsburgh (SUNYAC)) assisted on the play.  Just five minutes later, UC struck again as junior Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) found the back of the net for his ninth of the year, assisted by Hertz and LaFosse.  Senior Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) capped off the first period scoring as he ripped home a shot from the point at 14:48.  Graff and LaFosse assisted on Slowikowski's sixth of the season.

Each team scored just one goal in the second period. Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) gave UC a 4-0 lead at 4:32 with his 11th of the season, on the power play, assisted by Morton and freshman Donny Olivieri (Philadelphia, PA/Bismarck (NAHL)).  The Golden Flyers finally got on the board at 11:19 of the second, as Julius Tamasy scored on the power-play for his sixth of the year.  Ben Waldman and Scott Dawson assisted on the tally.

The Pioneers added three more goals in the third to put the game on ice.  Junior Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) scored just 42 seconds into the final frame off assists from Olivieri and Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)).  Then, Gaffney hooked up with senior Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) at 12:59 for his second of the year.  Robert Etts (Smithtown, NY/Hitmen (EJHL)) also assisted on Chlanda's tally.  UC finished the scoring just 33 seconds later as Slowikowski netted his second of the game of feeds from Hertz and LaFosse.

Joe Gladnick and Ed Zdolshek combined for 42 saves for Nazareth, while Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) stopped 15 shots in net for UC.

The Golden Flyers drop to 6-15-1 overall and 1-11 in the conference, while Utica improves to 18-4-0 (9-3-0 ECAC West) and sets a new school record for wins in a single season. The Pioneers, who are the top team in the country according to the D3hockey.com computer rankings, have now won seven of their last eight contests. 

Both teams will travel to Rochester, NY for the series finale tomorrow night at the Sports Centre at Monroe Community College.  Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.

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