UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team returned from the holiday break and scored five unanswered goals on its way to a 5-1 victory on Friday night against Skidmore College at the Adirondack Bank Center.

The Pioneers, who sit atop the United Collegiate Hockey Conference standings, have now won five in a row and improved to 9-5 overall and 5-2 at home.  UC has not allowed more than one goal in a home game since its opening weekend against national power Adrian College.

Utica's JT Entelisano (Rome, NY/Markham Royals (OJHL)), Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) and Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) each posted one goal and one assist to pace the Pioneers. Goalie Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) stopped 21 shots and picked up his fifth win of the season, while Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) posted a game-high two assists for the Pioneers.
 
UC fell into a 1-0 first period hole, but responded by outscoring the Thoroughbreds 3-0 in the second frame to take a commanding 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Utica's Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) got the Pioneers on the board with his third of the year when he slapped a rebound out of the air and into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game 4:30 into second period.
 
Freshman JT Entelisano (Rome, NY/Markham Royals (OJHL)) added his second of the season to put the Pioneers on top 2-1 midway through the second period.  Fitzpatrick and Cameron Bartkoski (Dallas, TX/Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)) each recorded an assist on the goal.  Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) capped the third period scoring with his fourth goal of the season to put the Pioneers up 3-1.  Linemate's Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) and Shawn Lynch (Syracuse, NY/Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)) each registered an assist on the goal.

UC added two third period goals to put the game out of reach.  Joey Rutkowski (Rome, NY/Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)) scored first just 57 seconds into the final period and Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) capped the scoring on the day with his fourth of the season to give the Pioneers a four goal lead with 1:15 remaining.

Brian Kowalski added 25 saves in the loss for the Thoroughbreds.

Both teams were held scoreless on the power-play, while the Pioneers earned a 30-22 shot advantage on the evening.
 
UC will now hit the road for a three game stretch, beginning with nationally-ranked Oswego State next Friday night at 7 p.m.