STEVENS POINT, WI  - The Utica College men's hockey team claimed second place in the 2018 Stevens Point Holiday Tournament on Saturday. Going into the third period, the Pioneers were in the thick of the game in a 2-1 deficit, but No. 1 UW-Stevens Point (8-0-2) scored of pair of goals in the game's later stages to put the Pioneers (4-5-0) away in a 4-1 win as the hosts claimed the tournament crown at KB Willett Arena.

Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) scored the lone goal of the game for the Pioneers on a late first period power play, and has scored three goals in his last four games for Utica as a senior.

Utica looked to establish early momentum with a strong surge in the opening minutes of the game, and were able to establish puck possession while also getting aided by an early first period power play.

The Pointers would counter and lift the lid on the scoring. Carter Roo fed Ryan McKellar for his first career goal at 5:37 of the first period to put the hosts on the board. The lead doubled at 18:05 of the period when Drew McLean canned the game-winner behind Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) to make it 2-0.

Utica frantically searched for an answer before the end of the frame and got one on a man advantage faceoff as the Pointers got called for a minor and a major, and Utica took a minor to create a 4-on-3 situation. Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) was tossed from the faceoff circle, leaving the duties to a defenseman, Justin Allen (Rochester, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)). Allen won the draw cleanly to the point man behind him, and a pass was lasered across to the weak side circle, where Borsoi took advantage of the extra open ice for his third goal of the season. Brandon Young (Muskegon, MI/Johnstown (NAHL)) notched an assist on the play.

A scoreless second period held limited opportunities for both sides as Utica had just five shots while limiting the Pointers to 8. The one goal deficit held until just over nine minutes to go, when a point shot by Steven Quagliata beat Baggetta to make the score 3-1. An empty net goal in the waning moments by Austin Kelly sealed the deal, and the Pointers improved their national-best win streak to ten games.

Utica was outshot 27-20 in the matchup. Utica was 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Pointers were 2-for-3. Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) made 23 saves in net for the Pioneers in the loss.

The meeting was the first-ever against UW-Stevens Point. Utica has also met WIAC schools UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout in the past. 

Utica caps off a five game road trip at 2-3, and returns home to the Aud this upcoming weekend as they host two UCHC games. The Pioneers will host Stevenson on Friday, a team which also ventured to the Badger State this weekend to play St. Norbert and Lawrence. On Saturday, Utica hosts Chatham in the 14th annual New York SASH Teddy Bear Toss. Both matchups begin at 7 p.m.