UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team downed local rival Hamilton College 5-3 in non-conference action at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday afternoon. Utica senior Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and junior Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)) each tallied one goal and one assist for the Pioneers, while freshman Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)) added two assists of his own.

The Pioneers snapped a six game winless streak and improved to 2-4-2 overall on the season.  Utica also improved its all-time record against Hamilton to 6-5-4 overall.  Utica is in the midst of a five game home stand and turns right back around tomorrow at 7 p.m. when it hosts Connecticut College for its third straight non-conference match-up. Hamilton's record moved to 1-2-1 overall on the season.

The Pioneers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 7:30 of action as freshman Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)) and Hogan each netted a goal less than minute apart.  Wetmore and sophomore Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) assisted on the Pioneers' first goal of the game at the 6:41 marker, before Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) and Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)) added assists on their second goal of the game. 

Hamilton cut its deficit to 2-1 3:00 into the second period, but the Pioneers answered right back on the power-play at 9:38, to give UC a 3-1 advantage, when freshman Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) netted his second career goal, off an assist from senior captain Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)) and Wold. 

The Continentals got one back to make it a one goal game in the 14^th minute of the second period, but the home team had the answer again as freshman Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)) tallied his first collegiate goal, which proved to be the eventual game-winner, with 2:57 remaining in the stanza.  Sophomore Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)) and Hogan each recorded an assist as the Pioneers took a 4-2 lead into the third and final period.

UC goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) held the Continentals scoreless until the 18:29 mark of the third period, when Tyler Lovejoy made it a one goal game once again, 4-3, with 1:31 to go in the contest.

Wetmore added an empty-netter with 28 seconds left to seal the victory for Utica.  Nick Miglio (San Antonio, TX/Bismarck (NAHL)) and Kevin Kirisits (Buffalo, NY/Brockville (CCHL)) each registered an assist on the game's final goal.

Wells finished the night with 25 saves in net for UC and earned his first win of the season, while the Pioneers' penalty kill unit held Hamilton to an 0-for-6 effort, including killing a five minute power-play in the opening minutes of the second period.

Utica outshot Hamilton 31-28 on the afternoon.  Zach Arnold stopped 20 shots in net for Hamilton in 35:47 of action.