UTICA, NY - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team readies for its final weekend tune-up before postseason play. The team welcomes Arcadia University to the ADK Bank Center for a 7 p.m. contest on Friday and a 2 p.m. game on Saturday. 
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can keep up with live video and/or stats for both games via https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Ticketing Info: Tickets for both games this weekend are available and can be purchased through https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=UCP&linkID=utica&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=. 
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers defeated the Alvernia University Golden Wolves 5-2 last Saturday evening to earn its 17th win in league play this season. 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. 
 
Game Sponsors: First Source will serve as the proud presenting sponsor of Friday's game against Arcadia. Founded in 1938, First Source is a not-for-profit, Member-owned financial cooperative with branches in New Hartford, North Utica, South Utica, Rome, and Herkimer. They serve more than 50,000 Members throughout Oneida and Herkimer Counties in Central New York, offering a full suite of deposit and loan products for both personal and business banking. Along with dedicated, personalized Member service, they provide 24/7 online and mobile account access, a nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs, automated phone service, and support for emerging banking technologies. For more information, visit them on their website at https://www.fsource.org/. The American Red Cross will also present Saturday's game and will give a CPR demonstration during the first intermission. To support the American Red Cross and their efforts, visit them on their website. 
 
Postseason & 2024-25 Season Ticket Info: Season ticket holders presently have their seats reserved for the postseason, and can purchase their reserved playoff seats through the Adirondack Bank Center Box Office from February 16-19. If seats are not claimed by then, those tickets will be released for purchase by the general public starting on February 19 at noon. Season ticket holders will also be able to purchase their quarterfinal and semifinal tickets during upcoming weekend series against Arcadia on February 16 & 17. Season ticket holders can stop at the OD FanZone located behind section 207 during both games to buy their seats. Season ticket holders are also encouraged to bring their season ticket card to the box office as a secondary form of identification. Please note, playoff tickets will be paper rather than loaded on your current season ticket card. General Public Tickets can be purchased to Utica's quarterfinal and semifinals games starting on February 19 at noon. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the Adirondack Bank Center Box Office during normal business hours, or you may purchase tickets online at EmpireStateTix.com. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $6 for students with valid ID or general youth. A $1 fee is included within the stated price of tickets. If Utica advances to the UCHC Championship on Saturday, March 2, season ticket holders will be given a three-day window from Monday, February 26 at noon through Wednesday, February 28 to purchase tickets. General public may begin purchasing tickets for the championship game on Wednesday, February 28 at noon. Season Ticket Member Access for the 2024-25 season will launch on Monday, February 26 at noon. Prices for the 2024-25 season will be $90 per seat (1 – 3 seats) or $70 per seat ($280 – 4 Pack). 
 
In the Polls: The Utica University men's hockey team remained No. 2 in this week's US College Hockey Online Men's Top 15. The poll was released Monday by the national college hockey website. The Pioneers received 269 points this week, one more than the 268 points received last week, to remain second in the poll. Utica swept its weekend series at home against Alvernia with a 4-1 win on Friday and a 5-2 victory on Saturday. The entire Division III men's poll can be found at https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-iii-mens-poll/.
 
Where we Stand: Utica currently sits atop the UCHC standings with a conference record of 17-0-1 and 52 points. The Pioneers go into the weekend having already secured home ice advantage throughout the UCHC Tournament, clinching their seventh consecutive conference regular season title last weekend. Entering the last weekend of regular season play, just five teams have secured berths into the UCHC Tournament with three spots left unclaimed. In a tight race, just six points separate sixth place Chatham and 11th place Lebanon Valley. With that, there is no clear picture on who to expect Utica to host in the first round of the postseason. With two games left utica leads the conference in goals scored with 108 (third in the nation), least goals against (34), margin of victory of 3.2 (second best in the nation), save percentage (.942) and face off winning percentage (.588). 
 
The Walls: Sophomore goalie, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) has been terrific in his first campaign with the team since transferring in from St. Thomas. Roberts has accumulated a .933 save percentage, ranking second in the conference amongst qualified goalies. He is allowing the least amount of goals per game at 1.74 as well. In his 15 starts, the team is 10-2-3. Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) has been on another level thus far, with a .964 save percentage and only .84 goals allowed per game across 427 minutes in net. The team is undefeated when he has been in net, going 6-0. 
 
It Costs to be the Boss: In what was a balanced scoring attack over the weekend against Alvernia, Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) led the team with three points coming from a goal and two assists. Acosta's goal was highlight-reel worthy where he would shift the goalie out of place with excellent puck handling skills and tie the game at 1-1. The graduate student has scored eight goals on the season, several of which came with a similar flashiness as his most recent one. He has totaled 22 points on the year, third most on the team, and the most he has had in a single season with Utica. Acosta's veteran presence has been integral to the team's success this season. He will look to lead the team to further playoff success down the stretch. 
 
About Arcadia: The Arcadia Knights improved incrementally over its three seasons as a program, winning five games in 2022, six in 2023, and currently sits 7-12-4 this year, with a 3-11-4 record in conference play. Juniors, Mike Kocsis and Dylan Florit have paced the team;s offense, scoring 25 points apiece thus far. After scoring seven points total across his first two seasons, Kocsis has found his stride in his third campaign, scoring a team high 15 goals along with 10 assists. Dylan Florit currently leads the program in career points with 55 through three seasons with the team. He has 11 goals and a team high 14 assists thus far in 2024. Ryan Burgess has started 14 games in goal for the team, allowing 3.52 goals per game with a .915 save percentage. 
 
Series History: Utica is 5-0 in their matchups against Arcadia, dating back to 2021. They have outscored the Knights a combined 38-5 in these five contests. Last season, the teams squared off three times, the most recent being in the UCHC quarterfinals where Utica won 5-2. In this game Utica trailed 2-1 in the second period but would score four unanswered goals to bring them to the UCHC semifinals. 

Up Next: The Pioneers will enter postseason play as the top-seed and will host the eighth-seed in the UCHC Quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 21. Time and opponent will be decided following the regular season finale on Saturday.