UTICA, NY - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team defeated the Alvernia University Golden Wolves 5-2 on Saturday evening to earn its 17th win in league play this season. 
 
A night after securing its seventh-straight UCHC regular season title, Utica came out hungry for more, completing yet another series sweep of a conference opponent. After what were two closely fought periods, the team pulled away in the third and coasted to victory.
 
Offense came from a wide array of skaters with Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)), Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)), Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)), John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)), and Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) each scoring a goal. Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) provided two assists, while Wood, Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), Vladislav Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica Comets (NCDC)), Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)), Austin D'Orazio (Vaughan, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)), Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)), Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)), and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) all had one. 
 
Utica's Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) had a solid night between the pipes, allowing two goals on 32 shot attempts for a .940 save percentage. 
 
The first period featured physical play from both teams and ended in a 1-1 score while Utica held a 10-8 shot advantage.
 
Alvernia got on the board first, scoring just inside the first minute as Vincent Servizzi was able to find the back of the net on the team's first shot of the contest. 
 
Utica responded right back as they often do just a minute later. Pshenichnikov had the puck on a two-on-one breakaway and dished it off to Acosta who would make a brilliant move to bring the score back to even.
 
Aside from Acosta's remarkable goal, Utica got off to a slow start, only managing two shots on net in the first 10 minutes of play. They would later begin to attack more as the period went on but were unable to convert several close scoring opportunities as the score remained tied going into the second.  
 
Each team would score a goal apiece in the second period, with Alvernia drawing first blood once again after scoring off a rebound from close range. 
 
Utica would get a power play opportunity just two minutes later and capitalized, scoring just seven seconds in. Morse rifled a shot that was deflected by Wood past Alvernia's Jackson Fellner to tie the game back up at 2-2. 
 
Both goalies held strong the remainder of the period, each making several superb saves during penalty kill minutes. 
 
It was all Utica in the third, as the team scored three more goals to comfortably bring them to a 5-2 victory. 
 
Carroll started the scoring, skating around the net and beating the outstretched goalie on a wrap-around shot for the first goal of the frame and the eventual game-winner.
 
Murphy would later intercept a pass, dish the puck to Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) who would then give it right back, rewarding Murphy with a wide open look in which he would take advantage of by rifling a wrist shot into the net for Utica's fourth goal of the night. 
 
Gutt was responsible for Utica's final goal with a close-range shot set up through a pass by Herrera at the 11 minute mark. 
 
The Pioneers (18-2-3, 17-0-1 UCHC) will host Arcadia University for First Source Night on Friday, February 16 at 7 p.m. for their final conference series of the year.

Tickets are still available for both games next weekend through https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=UCP&linkID=utica&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.