UTICA, NY - Backed by a Nicolas Haviar (Vail, CO/Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)) hat-trick, the No. 6 Utica University men's hockey team topped the visiting Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen, 7-1, from the Nexus Center on Sunday afternoon.  

Haviar netted each of Utica's last three goals to complete the hat-trick. The three goals over six shots were also the first three of his Pioneer career.  

Utica also saw goals from Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, ON/Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)), Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) and Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)). Scoville added three assists to his line which were tied with Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) for the team lead. Della Rovere assisted on a pair of goals too, as did Alexander Gullichsen (Turku, Finland/Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)).  

In goal, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) made 24 saves with just one goal allowed en route to earning the win.  

The Pioneers wasted no time jumping out front in the contest as just 17 seconds in, Della Rovere scored off of passes from Scoville and Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) for an early 1-0 edge.  

About five minutes later, Scoville and Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) fed Vitale for his fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead. The sides settled in from there until Acosta nailed a power play goal at 16:55 which would carry the team into intermission with a 3-0 advantage.  

Much like in the first, Utica came out of the gates hot in the second. After two assists in the first frame, Scoville found the back of the net himself on a pretty one-timer with assists going to Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) and John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)).  

Not long after at 4:04, the Dutchmen came back with a score of their own off the stick of Brendan Yingling to cut the deficit back to three.  

From there on, the freshman Haviar took over the game.  

At 12:18 in the second, the rookie notched his first career goal before coming right back for his second with under two minutes to play in the period. He capitalized on a clean look on goal in the third to complete the hat-trick at 14:27 to put the de facto end to the game.  

Utica (12-2-3, 11-0-1 UCHC) will welcome Nazareth University to the ADK Bank Center on Friday for a rematch of the 2023 UCHC Championship. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.