UTICA, NY - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team defeated the No. 9 Plymouth State Panthers in the NCAA Division III Tournament Quarterfinals, 4-1, on Saturday evening. With the win, the Pioneers advance to the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the first time since the 2012-13 season. 
 
Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)) starred for Utica in the contest, scoring a team high two goals. Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) and Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, ON/Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)) rounded out the Utica scoring. Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) assisted on two goals while Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)), Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)), Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)), Carroll and Della Rovere all added one assist. 
 
For the Panthers, Colin Tracy scored their lone goal midway through the second period. Kalle Anderson totaled 30 saves in goal for Plymouth State as well. 
 
Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) continued his postseason excellence, making 34 saves while allowing just one goal in the win. 
 
Utica's speed and tenaciousness allowed them to jump out to a 1-0 lead after the first period concluded. The lone goal of the period came 15 minutes in when Scoville would push the tempo, sending a pass up ahead in the neutral zone. Herrera won the puck battle and would dish it off to Breault who finished the sequence off rifling a shot past Anderson, bringing the crowd alive with the early edge. 
 
Prior to the score, it was a hard fought battle where both teams had close scoring chances. Murphy was denied twice from close range by Plymouth's Andersson, who made a plethora of incredible saves throughout the period. Scoville had a shot go off the post as well. 
 
Several Utica turnovers gave Plymouth some premier chances of their own, yet Roberts remained steady in net, making 11 saves in the frame. 
 
The second period featured loads of action with Utica notching two goals while Plymouth added one. The score would be 3-1 at the termination of the frame.  
 
Utica drew their second power play opportunity of the night at the 5:40 mark. Less than a minute into this stretch, Utica pieced together an excellent offensive possession that resulted in a Caroll goal. Acosta found Gutt behind the net who would swing the puck to a wide-open Carroll who tacked on the team's second goal of the night.
 
Plymouth State showed resolve despite the early deficit as they brought the game to 2-1 with a goal from Collin Tracy. Tracy's wrist shot from up top made it past all skaters undeflected and into the back of the net. It was his first of the season.
 
The Panthers momentum was short-lived as Utica got back on the attack. Della Rovere corralled a puck off a rebound and fired a shot from point blank range past the outstretched goalie to bring Utica's lead back to two goals. 
 
Carroll brought the Pioneers home, adding his second goal of the night in the third period at the 6:40 mark. He would intercept a puck in open ice before taking a hit, regaining possession, and making a move to find the back of the net.
 
The goal brought the score to 4-1 early on in the period. Both teams battled for the remainder of the closing frame with no goals to show for it as Utica coasted to victory. 
 
Utica (24-3-2, 19-0-1 UCHC) will head to Hartford, Connecticut for the NCAA Division III Semifinals on Thursday, March 21 and will face the winner of No. 1 Hobart and No. 12 Curry. Game time will either be at 3 p.m. or 7 p.m.