UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team exploded with two third period goals to earn a key 2-0 victory over visiting Manhattanville College in ECAC Men's West Conference action at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night.  Senior forward Peter LaFosse (Merrimack, NH/Kimball Union Academy) netted his second goal in as many games to help the Pioneers remain unbeaten in nine of their last ten contests.

Utica has now won three straight and improved to 8-5-3 overall and 1-4-1 in the ECAC West.  Utica has now won 10 of its last 13 meetings against the Valiants.  Manhattanville headed into the contest unbeaten in five of its last six games and the Valiants' record moved to 6-6-4 overall and 1-4-1 in the ECAC West. 

Utica goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) stopped all 27 shots he faced as he earned his first shutout of the season for the Pioneers. Wells now has a 6-2-2 record this season and a 1.99 goals against average.  Wells is unbeaten in five consecutive starts and he has allowed just one goal in his last two appearances. Utica outshot the Valiants 32-27 on the evening and held the visitors to an 0-for-1 effort on the power-play.

After a scoreless 44 minutes of action the Pioneers opened the scoring when LaFosse registered his fifth goal of the season at the 4:03 mark of the third period.  Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) was credited with his 12^th assist of the season while freshman Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) added his fifth assist of the year.

Senior All-American Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) recorded his team-best ninth goal of the season with 5:32 remaining in the contest to seal the two goal victory for the Pioneers.  Senior Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) recorded his 12^th assist of the season and sophomore Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) chipped in with his 11^th assist on the Educate goal.

Manhattanville goalie Brian Fleming stopped 30 shots as his record moved to 5-6-3 overall on the year.   

The Pioneers will now hit the road for four straight conference games beginning with a two game set at Neumann University next weekend.  The Pioneers will square off against the Knights on the road next Friday at 7 p.m.