ROME, NY-  Six Different players scored as the Utica College men's hockey team skated to a 7-1 win in its exhibition season-opener held at Kennedy Arena in nearby Rome, NY on Saturday evening.
 
It was a fitting start to the season as Rome native JT Entelisano (Rome, NY/Markham Royals (OJHL)) opened the scoring at 7:43 in front of his home crowd. Entelisano's tally was assisted by seniors Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)).
 
The Mustangs responded just over the halfway mark of the first period when Nick DeVito put in a feed from Eric Melso for Morrisville's first tally of the year.  Jesse Anderson was also credited with an assist on the play.
 
It was short-lived however as Utica responded just 35 seconds later when Nick Yzaguirre (Chicago, IL/Charlotte Rush (USPHL-Premier)) scored a short-handed tally to regain the lead.  Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) stole the puck behind the Morrisville net and centered a feed to Yzaguirre who buried it into the lower right corner.
 
Utica tacked on another score at 12:56 when freshman Buster Larsson (Bunkeflostrand, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)) fired a shot from the point that went off the post and in for his first goal as a Pioneer.  Joey Rutkowski (Rome, NY/Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)) and Donovan Ott (Lebanon, PA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC Hockey)) assisted on the powerplay goal.
 
The Pioneers added three more tallies in the second period starting with a power play goal from freshman Brandon Osmundson (Chesapeake, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) at 10:15 for his first collegiate goal.  Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) and Kasper Kjellkvist (Vaxjo, Sweden/Curry College (Commonwealth Coast Conf.)) assisted on Osmundson's score.
 
Just 2:07 later another Rome native got in on the action as freshman Jaxon Rutkowski (Rome, NY/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL Premier)) found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.  Holland and Tyler Pietrowski (Curtice, OH/Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)) each had an assist on the play.
 
Pietrowski scored one of his own at 17:35 when he beat goalie Owen Liskiewicz off assists from Osmundson and Yzaguirre. 
 
The Pioneers capped off the scoring at 4:25 as Larsson put in his second of the day, assisted by Brad Becker (Howell, NJ/Binghamton Jr. Senators (NA3HL)) to seal the victory. 
 
The Pioneer special teams were clicking as Utica was 2-for-5 on the power play while holding Morrisville scoreless on seven chances with the man-advantage.  UC also added a short-handed tally.   
 
Utica outshot the Mustangs 52-13 on the day.  Rome native Ethan Siderine (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)), and freshman Joseph Giacobbo (Deptford, NJ/Rockland Nationals (CCHL)) combined for 12 saves on the evening.
 
The Pioneers have one final tune up before the official start of the season as they host University of New England next Saturday in an exhibition contest.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center.