UTICA, NY – UC's Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)) scored in the 3v3 overtime period to help the Utica College men's hockey team pick up an extra league point as the Pioneers skated to a 1-1 tie against visiting Elmira College in United Collegiate Hockey Conference action at the Adirondack Bank Center on Friday night. 

The Pioneers are unbeaten in four straight conference games and their record moves to 12-6-2 overall and 9-3-1 in league play. Elmira's record moved to 11-8-2 and 9-3-2 in the UCHC. After skating to a 1-1 tie in regulation the contest was sent to OT, but it could not be decided in the five minute extra frame and goes into the official record as a tie. New UCHC league rules state that an extra league point can be earned via a second five minute OT period (3v3). 

It was the 53rd all time meeting between Utica and Elmira, who continued their eighteenth straight year meeting one another as conference rivals, a series that runs back to Utica's debut in 2001. Utica caps the regular season series against the Soaring Eagles 1-0-1 after a convincing 6-0 victory on the road at Elmira earlier this season.  

Utica kept its home conference unbeaten streak alive (15 games) as it has outscored the conference opposition 31-4 in their six UCHC home games. UC has allowed two or less goals in 14 of its last 15 conference home games.
 
Elmira got on the board in the first period when Spencer MacLean netted his second tally of the season just 2:23 into the contest to put a scare into the Pioneers early.  MacLean's goal gave the Soaring Eagles a 1-0 advantage and it was assisted by Marty Kapoian and Spencer Carter.

UC sophomore winger Tyler Pietrowski (Curtice, OH/Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)) knotted the score at 1-1 when he registered his second goal of the season 14:18 into the second period.  Pietrowski was working hard in front when EC goalie Jake Sabourin let up a rebound and the UC forward capitalized to tie the game up.  Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) and Vaden McManus (Fayetteville, NC/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) were each credited with an assist on UC's first goal. 
 
Utica earned a 38-27 shot advantage on the afternoon.  The Pioneers were 0-for-5 on the power-play, while holding the visitors to an 0-for-1 effort with a man-advantage.

Utica goalie Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)), the reigning conference goalie of the week, made 26 stops and has now allowed just one goal in his last three starts. Baggetta's shutout streak ended at 130 minutes and 28 seconds and the team's home conference shutout streak was halted at 171 minutes and 16 seconds.  Elmira's Jake Sabourin had a solid effort in net for the Soaring Eagles as he made 36 saves.

The Pioneers wrap up the weekend at home on Saturday when they welcome Lebanon Valley College for Dunkin' Make-A-Wish Night at 7 p.m.