OWINGS MILLS, MD - The #5 Utica University men's ice hockey team had a far from easy time against Stevenson, but the Pioneers made it work in their second overtime game of the year. With just over a minute played in overtime, junior defenseman Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) cut in at the right circle, made his defender drop to the ice, and picked the top right corner of the net to lift Utica to a 4-3 win over Stevenson in their United Collegiate Hockey Conference opener on Friday. 

The Pioneers are now 1-2 overall and obtain two standings points, while Stevenson falls to 1-2 with one standings point. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Utica held a 38-25 edge in shots for the matchup, while both powerplays finished the night at 0-for-2 on a sparse night for advantage opportunities.

A multi-point game from captain Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) set the pace for the Utica offense with a goal and an assist. Eight Pioneers had a point in total, with Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) and Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) adding the other Pioneer goals, while Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)), Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)), Joey Berkopec (Hamilton, Ontario/Coquitlam Express (BCHL)), Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)), and John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) had assists. 

Graeme McCrory led Stevenson with a goal and an assist. 

In goal, Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) had 22 saves to take the win. 

Just over five minutes in, the home team made a daring charge to a 2-0 lead with goals just 29 seconds apart. John Musella scored at 5:03, while Alex Rivet canned a goal of his own at 5:32. The Pioneers responded to tie the game by the end of the stanza, with Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) scoring to get the game back to level terms through 20 minutes played. 

The second period also saw both teams connect on a marker apiece, with McCrory scoring for Stevenson, and Parker tying the game for Utica at 17:57. Neither team scored in the third, and the Pioneers scored on their only shot of overtime to take the extra session win.