WILKES-BARRE, PA - The No. 4 Utica University men's hockey team shutout the Wilkes University Colonels 5-0 on Saturday evening to take the first of two games this weekend. 
 
Vladislav Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica Comets (NCDC)) netted a pair of goals in the win while Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)) and Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) each had one. Pshenichnikov's three points led the team as he had an assist in the game as well while Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) led the team with two helpers. Herrera, Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)), Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)), Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) and Gabriel Lundberg (Gothenburg, Sweden/Janesville Jets (NAHL)) all had one. 
 
In goal, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) notched his fifth win of the season and his first shutout with the Pioneers as he stopped each of Wilkes' 31 shots on goal. 
 
Overall, Utica outshot the Colonels 85-56 and 50-31 on goal. The Pioneers also controlled faceoffs 39-34. On power plays, Utica silenced the Colonels, holding the hosts scoreless in the three attempts they had. On the other hand, the Pioneers went 2-for-4 on the advantage. 
 
The Pioneers controlled the opening 20 minutes of play as the team outshot the Colonels 34-9, including 23-7 on goal, and controlled 16 of 24 faceoffs. 
 
On Utica's first power play opportunity of the game the team was able to cash in. Nearing the end of the advantage, Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)) ripped one past Wilkes goalie Michael Paterson-James for a 1-0 lead at 14:07. Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) and Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)) assisted on the goal. Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) stopped each of Wilkes' seven shots on goal to help the Pioneers go into intermission ahead by one. 
 
A mere 43 seconds into the second period, Vladislav Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica Comets (NCDC)) notched his second goal of the season thanks to a Gabriel Lundberg (Gothenburg, Sweden/Janesville Jets (NAHL)) assist to open Utica's lead to 2-0. After the score, Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)) was called for slashing which gave Wilkes its first power play of the night. The Pioneer defense and Roberts stayed stout, keeping the Colonels off the board despite three shots on goal and three blocked shots. 
 
Pshenichnikov went on to double-down late in the period with his second goal of the night at 17:56 to extend the Pioneers' lead to 3-0 entering the final 20 minutes of play. Herrera added the helper to Pshenichnikov's second score. 
 
Much like in the second, Utica scored within the first minute of play in the third. On a power play that carried over from the end of the second, Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) recorded his fifth of the year to make it 4-0 with assists going to Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) and Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)). Herrera delivered the final blow with his fourth goal of the year at 14:40 as he was assisted by Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) and Pshenichnikov to make it 5-0 and ultimately seal the deal. 
 
No. 4 Utica (5-0-2, 4-0-1 UCHC) and Wilkes are set to meet again at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday to complete the two-game set.