UTICA, NY - The top-seeded Utica College men's ice hockey team saw its season come to a riveting and dramatic end on Friday. Fourth-seeded Elmira broke a 1-1 tie at 5:46 of the third overtime as forward Bailey Krawczyk flushed a rebound to lift the Soaring Eagles to a 2-1 win over the Pioneers in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference Semifinal at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Elmira advances to the championship to play Stevenson on Monday. Utica's title defense falls a game short of the finals, as the Pioneers wrap at an 8-2 overall record in a shortened season, which was also the program's 20th.

The game is the longest in program history, the longest in conference history, and the fourth longest in NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey history at an elapsed game time of 105 minutes and 46 seconds. It is one of just six games in the history of Division III men's ice hockey to reach a third overtime. The previous program record was just over 88 minutes in a double overtime conference semifinal game against Elmira in 2005.

It also marked the return of fans to the Aud for a hockey game at any level above youth hockey, as 400 ticket holders were welcomed into the building for the first time in 2021.

The Pioneers outshot the Soaring Eagles 63-41. Elmira's Chris Janzen made 62 saves, while Utica's Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) made 40 stops. The teams were a combined 0-4 on the power play.

The Soaring Eagles snagged a 1-0 lead in the first period on an even strength goal by Chance Gorman at 14:51. Jared Smith and Ryan Reifler had the assists.

The Pioneers would serve up their game-prolonging reply in the second period as Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) spun into his eighth goal of the season. He was assisted by John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) and Brandon Osmundson (Chesapeake, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)).

Neither team scored in the third period, and the anticipation and pressure would continually build through a riveting first and second overtimes before Krawczyk brought an end to a nearly four hour battle between the two teams. Utica outshot Elmira 27-17 in the three overtimes.

The Pioneers now look forward to welcoming their fans back to the Aud on what will be a hopefully more permanent basis for their 21st season of hockey in the 2021-22 season.