OSWEGO, NY - The No. 4 Utica University men's hockey team fell on the road to the Oswego State Lakers, 3-2, on Saturday night. 
 
The Lakers, who received votes in the latest USCHO Top-15 Poll, outshot the Pioneers 27-23 on the night while Utica controlled the faceoff dot, 40-32. 
 
For the Pioneers, Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)) and Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) notched goals in the game. Domenick Evtimov (Northbrook, IL/Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)) and Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)) had assists as well. In goal, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) made 24 saves in the losing effort. 
 
The first period provided some early excitement for spectators as the Lakers netted one early into the game. At 2:04, Cam Symons found the back of the net to give Oswego a 1-0 lead. However, the Pioneers responded 12 minutes later by way of an Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) goal to even the score. 
 
Despite physical play, neither side found itself in the penalty box through the first to go into the second even at one apiece. 
 
When the first power play opportunity came, however, the Lakers would be the benefactors and made the most of it. At 15:14, Shane Bull buried a goal to regain the lead for the Lakers. Utica had a man-up chance towards the end of the period as well, one that eventually turned into a 5-on-3 over the final seconds of the second frame. 
 
The Pioneers opened the third on the advantage and put a pair of unsuccessful shots on net. Less than six minutes into the period though, the Lakers extended their lead to 3-1 with a tally by Tyler Flack. 
 
While Herrera trimmed the Pioneers' deficit to one goal with a score at 14:06, the Lakers defense held steady to maintain their lead for the upset victory. 

No. 4 Utica (6-2-3, 5-0-1 UCHC) will return from semester break on Friday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. to host Manhattanville College at the Utica University Nexus Center. Limited tickets are still available at https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=UCP&linkID=utica&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.