ROCHESTER, NY - The #2 Utica College men's ice hockey team grinded out yet another road win on Friday. Junior captain Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) scored the first two goals of the game, and the Pioneers went on to win by a 4-1 score over host Nazareth College in a UCHC game at the Bill Gray's IcePlex in Rochester, NY.
The Pioneers improve to 6-1, and 5-0 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play. They have won five consecutive games, including a 3-0 record on their recent road swing. Nazareth fell to 2-5, and 2-3 in the UCHC.
Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) led Utica with two goals. Classmate John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) added a goal as the linemates improved their point streaks to nine consecutive games. Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) and Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) had two assists apiece, while Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)) and Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)) also tacked on assists.
Sean Dickson (San Francisco, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) made thirteen saves to secure the win in goal for the Pioneers, while Nazareth rookie Matt Sayles had 27 saves for the Golden Flyers.
Utica out-shot Nazareth 31-14, and were 1-for-6 on the power play. UC's power play totaled ten shots.
The Pioneers controlled the pace of play and out-shot the Golden Flyers 15-3 in the first period, but a somewhat pedestrian period only yielded a single goal. That happened at the 4:33 mark when Everson dished the puck to Zapata. Zapata canned the ensuing shot for his fourth goal of the season, and Utica led 1-0 through 20 minutes.
Zapata doubled his goal total, and the Pioneer lead just 1:39 into the second period. Acosta and Everson collected the assists on the play. Moncovich would enhance the lead further to 3-0 at the 13:32 mark on the heels of a power play opportunity, with Acosta and Allen snagging the helpers.
The late stages of the second period and early stages of the third presented a chance for the hosts to turn the tide. Joey Berkopec (Hamilton, Ontario/Coquitlam Express (BCHL)) and Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) took hooking penalties just 22 seconds apart to put the Pioneers at a 5-on-3 disadvantage in the waning minutes of the period. While UC killed off the power play, Nazareth still grabbed a goal before the horn sounded.
With just five seconds left in the period, former Pioneer JT Entelisano got Nazareth on the board with his second goal of the season for the Golden Flyers. The momentum, however, was short lived. Nazareth's Henry McKinney ran Acosta into the boards from behind as time expired for a major penalty, and Utica took a five minute power play into the third.
Nothing would come of the power play to begin the third, and Utica had to contend with an inspired Nazareth effort in the third. With Sayles yanked for the extra attacker, the Pioneers turned in a gutsy effort late in the frame as they held the Golden Flyers off the board until a penalty was whistled in the final 30 seconds against Nazareth's Mitch Culver. Utica would add an insurance goal on the late power play, as Curran dished the puck from the left wing to Osmundson, and the junior smoked a one-time rocket to the top of the cage from the right face-off circle to finish off a 4-1 win. Utica was limited to just eight third period shots.
The Pioneers return home on Friday, November 26th as they battle Amherst College. The game is part of the UC Thanksgiving Tournament, which also features #15 UMass-Boston and #1 Geneseo.
