UTICA, NY - The Utica College men's ice hockey team had a three game winning streak halted on Friday, but remains undefeated. Utica and Lebanon Valley couldn't quite settle things over 65 minutes in a 1-1 tie, and visiting forward Cole Hepler scored in the special UCHC 3-on-3 overtime session to earn the additional standings point for Lebanon Valley College at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica is now 3-0-2 in its first five games, and 3-0-1 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play with a total of ten standings points. Lebanon Valley is now 1-3-1 in conference play with five standings points. The UCHC men's standings operate on a three point system, with a 3-on-3 period and a shootout permitted by the NCAA to award standings points as necessary. This marked the second time that Utica has advanced to those conditions in a conference game, with their first instance coming last season against Elmira.

It was the first non-loss result for Lebanon Valley in a game played at Utica in the 19 year history of the Utica program.

Utica outshot Lebanon Valley by a 42-26 score in a penalty laden affair that witnessed an amassing of fifteen total penalties. Lebanon Valley was 1-for-7 on the power play, and Utica's power play was held off the board for the first time all season tonight at an 0-for-8 clip.

The goaltenders were spectacular, with UCHC Goaltender of the Year Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) stopping 25 of 26 in his return from a two-game layoff. Syracuse native Henry Burns turned away 41 shots for the Dutchmen.

There was one goal in each of the first two periods in the game. Lebanon Valley opened the scoring on a power play one-timer at 11:36 of the first period. Jared Karas scored the goal, with Ziki Mroz and Danny Galvez picking up the assist. Utica was outshot 10-9 in the first period.

Utica offered a reply at 10:34, when Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) tied the score on assists by Vaden McManus (Fayetteville, NC/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). Utica out-shot Lebanon Valley 13-7 in the second period, 16-8 in a scoreless third period, and 4-1 in the regular five minute overtime period, but all were scoreless.

That put the game into a 3-on-3 session authorized by UCHC rules, where Lebanon Valley's Cole Hepler scored right before the horn on a goal that jumped out of the net off the post. That prompted a long discussion amongst the game officials, after which a goal was awarded and the Dutchmen received the extra standings point.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday as they host NYSCOPBA Veterans Night against Elmira College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.