UTICA, NY - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team defeated the Nazareth University Golden Flyers in the UCHC Quarterfinals by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday evening. The contest was closely matched through the first two periods, but Utica bested Nazareth over the final 20 minutes of play as all three goals came in the closing frame. 
 
Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)), Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)) and Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)) scored the team's goals while Vladislav Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica Comets (NCDC)), Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)), Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)), Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)), Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)), and Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) all added an assist.
 
Roberts was outstanding in net all night, making 22 saves without allowing a goal. 
 
It was a hard fought first period where both teams battled in the neutral zone for much of the action. Neither team could muster up any offense with Utica out-shooting Nazareth 12-9 in what was 20 minutes of tightly contested play. 
 
Utica was knocking on the door in the second with several close scoring chances on breakaway opportunities, yet Nazareth held strong defensively, continuing to keep them at bay. 
 
During a 5-on-3 penalty kill stretch that period, the Pioneers fought off any Nazareth offensive attack with Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) making three great saves to hold the feisty eight-seed in check.
 
While Nazareth had played clean hockey the first two frames, a mistake in the third would cost them and shift the energy in the arena.
 
Morse intercepted a bad Nazareth pass and had himself a wide open scoring chance. Before firing a shot he was tripped with the play still live and a delayed penalty awaiting. This left Herrera unguarded from close range where he would skate in hard on the puck and poke it in to score the team's first goal. 
 
The change in momentum was palpable after getting on the board. Just two minutes later, Scoville would snipe a deep range one-timer from the wing, igniting the crowd and making it a two goal lead. 
 
Murphy would later put the nail in the coffin, beating an outstretched Nazareth skater to a loose puck and scoring on an empty net with two minutes remaining.
 
Utica (21-2-3, 19-0-1 UCHC) will be back in action on Saturday, February 24 at 7 p.m. from the Adirondack Bank Center against the Alvernia Golden Wolves in the UCHC Semifinals.

Tickets for the game are available through https://empirestatetix.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=UCP&linkID=utica&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.