PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After taking a tough defeat against Stevenson on Friday, the Utica College men's ice hockey left little to no doubt about Saturday's outcome. The Pioneers scored five unanswered to break open a one goal game, and Utica went on to cruise to a 9-3 win over Chatham University in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play in Pittsburgh.

Utica is now 6-2-2, and 4-2-1 in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. They have won three of their last four games. 

Twelve skaters contributed at least one point to Utica's highest scoring game of the season to date. Junior forward Kasper Kjellkvist (Vaxjo, Sweden/Curry College (Commonwealth Coast Conf.)) tied a career-high with four points as he posted a goal and three assists to lead the Pioneer effort. Freshman forward Brandon Osmundson (Chesapeake, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) had his second career hat trick with a three goal evening, and now has nine goals this season. Defenseman Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)) had three assists, and Nick Yzaguirre (Chicago, IL/Charlotte Rush (USPHL-Premier)) tacked on a goal and an assist for his first multi-point game of the season. Tyler Dill (South Lake Tahoe, CA/Charlotte Rush (USPHL-Premier)) also had two assists. 

The Pioneers outshot Chatham 48-21, and had a 1-for-3 effort on the power play. Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) stopped 18 of 21 shots to earn his third win of the season.

Osmundson led the way as the Pioneers rolled out to a 4-2 lead at the end of one period of play. After Chatham's Chad Bell converted on an early power play opportunity, the freshman forward scored back-to-back goals to turn the tide in Utica's favor. Just fifteen seconds after Chatham took a 1-0 lead, Osmundson scored an unassisted goal to pull Utica back to level terms at 6:30 of the first period. Just 6:15 later, Osmundson struck again off the first collegiate assist for Jaxon Rutkowski (Rome, NY/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL Premier)) for a 2-1 advantage. Chatham's power play cashed in a second time at 16:14 of the first period to square the score at 2-2.

The Pioneers would get a late breaking effort to close the first period in an advantageous position. Utica scored two goals in the final minute of the period for a 4-2 lead. Yzaguirre scored his first of the season at 19:02, and Donovan Ott (Lebanon, PA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC Hockey)) scored what eventually stood as the game-winning goal right before the buzzer. Tyler Dill (South Lake Tahoe, CA/Charlotte Rush (USPHL-Premier)) and Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)) assisted on both goals. Utica outshot Chatham 19-7 in the first period.

Emerson Ducasse opened the second period with the third and final Chatham goal, but that's as close as the Cougars would get. Osmundson finished off his hat trick, and Josh Haskin (Troy, NY/P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (USPHL)) added a goal before the end of the second period, With the Pioneers holding the high ground in the third, Kjellkvist, Cameron Bartkoski (Dallas, TX/Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)), and Brad Becker (Howell, NJ/Binghamton Jr. Senators (NA3HL)) scored in the final frame to increase the lead further as the Pioneers closed the deal on a lopsided win. Utica remains undefeated in the all-time series against Chatham. Utica outshot Chatham by an 18-8 margin in the second period, and an 11-6 count in the third. 

The Pioneers will wrap up the 2019 portion of their schedule in grand style with the 15th annual New York SASH Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, December 14th. That game, to be played against Morrisville State, will be televised on WKTV NewsChannel 2.