UTICA, NY - For a second consecutive season, the No. 1 Utica University men's hockey team is headed to the UCHC Championship game following its 11-0 win over the Manhattanville College Valiants on Saturday night. 
 
The win not only advances the Pioneers to their second-straight championship game, but it also extends the all-time program unbeaten record to 25 straight games and its winning streak to 17 games. 
 
Next weekend's championship game will also mark the fifth appearance for Utica in the team's six seasons of UCHC play. 
 
Lucas Herrmann (Elma, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) joined some elite company with his four goal performance on Saturday evening. Herrmann tied a single-game program record, joining Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) (2023 vs. Lebanon Valley College), Gregg Burmaster (2019 vs. King's), Phil Boots/Trent Flory (2003 vs. SUNY Brockport) and a two-time four-goal scorer in Jimmy Sokol (2002 vs. Neumann and 2004 vs. SUNY Potsdam).
 
The Pioneers were in full control tonight with an incredible 11 goals and 71 shots while allowing just 18 shots with no goals. Of the team's 11 goals, one was short handed while five came on power plays over eight chances. 
 
Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) and Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)) netted two goals while Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)), Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)), and John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) each scored one. Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) continued his stellar season with a trio of assists while Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)), Connor Fedorek (Bethel Park, PA/Ferris State University (NCAA DI)), Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)), Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)), Brandon Ossmundson, and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) recorded two each. Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)), Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)), Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)), and Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) all totaled one assist. In net, Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) recorded 18 saves and earned another shutout in a team dominating win.
 
The Pioneers came out firing with a whopping 25 shots while allowing just three. Utica had a field day with a six-goal opening period that included a Lucas Herrmann (Elma, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) hat trick. Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) scored just 26 seconds into the game to give Utica a 1-0 edge. Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) and Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)) assisted the goal. At the 4:35 mark, Herrmann found the back of the net off of passes from Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)) and Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)). Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) scored at the 8:21 mark to give Utica a commanding 3-0 lead. Brandon Ossmundson and Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)) assisted the goal. Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)) scored the fourth Pioneer goal at the 12:16 mark and was assisted by Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) and John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)). Moments later Herrmann found the back of the net at the 13:13 mark for his second goal of the game. Herrmann secured his hat trick at the 18:31 mark as Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) assisted the goal. After one, Utica led an incredible 6-0 with all of the momentum.
 
The Pioneers kept the pressure on with Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) scoring the seventh Pioneer goal just one minute into the second frame. Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) and Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) assisted the goal. Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) netted his second goal of the game at the 5:13 mark off of feeds from Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) and Brandon Ossmundson. Herrmann continued his fantastic evening with his fourth goal of the game at the 15:40 mark as Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) and Connor Fedorek (Bethel Park, PA/Ferris State University (NCAA DI)) assisted the play. Utica was able to have success on the power play as the three second period goals were on the man advantage. The Pioneers took its 9-0 lead with 55 shots into the final period of play.
 
Utica kept firing away and recorded two more goals in the third frame. John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) found the back of the net at the 2:42 mark off beautiful passes from Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) and Conor Federok. Dobay and Fedorek were facilitating all night and this was the second straight goal that the two assisted on. Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)) netted the Pioneers final goal of the evening at the 10:14 mark and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) and Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) assisted the goal. Utica won 11-0 in very convincing fashion to advance to the UCHC Championship game.
 
No. 1 Utica (24-2-1, 20-0-0 UCHC) will host second-seeded Nazareth College on Saturday, March 4 to decide the winner of the UCHC. Puck drop from the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium will be announced next week.