Hershey, Pa. - The No. 4 Utica College Men's Ice Hockey team brought home a twelfth straight win, and with it, the promise of home playoff hockey at the Aud. The Pioneers snagged a 2-0 lead after one period of play, and never let off the gas pedal as they topped host Lebanon Valley by a 5-0 score in a UCHC game at the historic Hersheypark Arena.

The win ensures Utica will finish in the top four in the UCHC, and will have the opportunity to host at least a first round matchup in the upcoming conference tournament. Utica is now 17-2-2 on the season, and 11-2-1 in the UCHC after sweeping the weekend. Twelve consecutive wins is a program record.

The Pioneers were led by a twelve save shutout by senior netminder Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)). The clean sheet is the sixth of his career, which ties him for second in program history alongside assistant coach Nick Therrien.

Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)) led Utica offensively with a goal and two assists, and Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) had a goal and assist. Donovan Ott (Lebanon, PA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC Hockey)), Cameron Bartkoski (Dallas, TX/Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)), and Buster Larsson (Bunkeflostrand, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)) scored the remaining goals for Utica.

The Pioneers produced a venomous first period to take a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of action. Holland led the way with a goal and an assist in that opening stanza, as he assisted on Larsson's game-opening goal at 7:33, then waited little time to add a goal of his own at 9:53 to give UC a two goal lead after one period. Fritz assisted on both Utica goals. The Pioneers outshot the Dutchmen 10-7 despite losing the faceoff battle in the first period, 15-10.

The first period would end up being by far the game's most balanced. In the second period, the Pioneers held their opposition to a single shot in a frame for the second time this semester as they dominated the Dutchmen all period long to a shot advantage of 16-1 in the second period. However, just a lone goal would come of it amidst an excellent effort by Lebanon Valley netminder Henry Burns, who made fifteen second period saves. Lebanon, Pennsylvania native Donovan Ott (Lebanon, PA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC Hockey)) would collect the goal against his hometown side as he lit the lamp at 18:16. Brandon Osmundson (Chesapeake, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) and Vaden McManus (Fayetteville, NC/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) nabbed the assists on the play as Utica took a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes.

Utica dominated the third as well with a 16-4 shot count, and they recorded a pair of goals to finalize a five goal shutout. Cameron Bartkoski (Dallas, TX/Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)) scored at even strength at the 3:23 mark for his third of the season, and Fritz finished the job with his eighth goal of the season on the power play at 15:38.

Total shots for the evening were 42-12 Utica. The Pioneers were perfect on the penalty kill, and went 1-for-6 on the power play. 

The Pioneers return home to face Chatham University on Friday.