UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team lost to visiting University of New England 7-3 in non-conference action at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday night.  The Pioneers rallied with two goals late in the second period to cut their deficit to 4-3, but the visiting Nor'Easters posted a three goal third period to put the game out of reach.

Utica's record moved to 10-6 overall on the year, but the Pioneers remain at 6-0 atop the ECAC West Conference standings.  UNE improved to 7-5-1 overall after the victory. 

The Pioneers received goals from Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)), Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) and Connor Schmidt (Monroe, MI/Arizona State (D1-Ind.)) on the afternoon, while junior Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) chipped in with two assists.

UNE was led by a four point effort from Brady Fleurent, who finished the night with one goal and three assists.  Ryan Bloom added two goals and one assist, while Danny Antonoff chipped in with two goals of his own.  Tucker Ross also added one goal and one assist for the Nor'Easters.

The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead after goals from Trevor Fleurent and Tucker Ross.

UNE pushed to a 3-0 lead 2:38 into the second period when Danny Antonoff scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Tony Crow and Tucker Ross. The Pioneers then cut their deficit to 3-1 when Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) rifled home his third goal of the season at the 3:06 marker, assisted by Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)) and Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)).

UNE responded 2:42 later with its fourth goal of the contest, from the stick of Ryan Bloom, to give the visitors a commanding 4-1 second period lead. However, the Pioneers would not go down east as Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) made it a 4-2 game with 6:45 to go in the second period when he netted his third goal of the season, assisted by Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) and Valenti. Connor Schmidt (Monroe, MI/Arizona State (D1-Ind.)) made it a one goal game, 4-3, when he ripped home his second goal of the season with 1:39 remaining in the second period.  Schmidt's goal was assisted by Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) and Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). Ammirato now has a team-high 13 assists this season and Valenti is ranked second on the team with 10 helpers.

The Nor'Easters came out sharp in the third period, and netted three goals in the first 7:16 of the final stanza to put the game out of reach. 

UNE posted five power-play goals on the afternoon, while Utica went 1-for-6 with a man advantage.

Utica freshman goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) stopped 24 total shots in the loss.  He was relieved by classmate Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) who made five third period saves in net for the Pioneers. UNE goalie Tate Sproxton stopped 21 shots in the victory for the Nor'Easters.

Utica kicks off the second half of its conference schedule next Friday when the Pioneers travel to Nazareth College to take on the Golden Flyers in ECAC West play at 7 p.m.