HARTFORD, CT - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team's run to a national championship ended on Thursday afternoon as the team fell to the defending champion and No. 1 ranked Hobart College Statesmen, 3-1, in the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Frozen Four Semifinal. 
 
Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)) scored the team's lone goal while Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) assisted. In goal, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) racked up 24 saves. 
 
Hobart out-shot Utica 27-23 in the game while the Statesmen also claimed the faceoff advantage, 35-24. 
 
Hobart jumped out to a 1-0 lead 52 seconds into the game. Following a miss by Tanner Hartman, Austin Mourar collected the rebound and fired it past the reach of Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)). Over the ensuing several minutes a handful of Pioneers produced shots that were blocked or off the post while Utica returned the favor to Hobart in similar fashion. 
 
However, the Statesmen struck again at 7:25 when Hartman capitalized on a dish from Tristan Fasig. The goal was reviewed but was upheld for a 2-0 Hobart advantage. Over the final three minutes of the period, Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)), Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)), Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, ON/Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)) had looks but to no avail as the game moved into the second with the Pioneers behind by two scores. 
 
Shots were similar in what was a penalty-filled second period with Hobart having the advantage, 10-7. As far as penalties went, Utica committed two while the Statesmen were nailed for three. 
 
The Pioneers were able to chip away at their deficit midway through the second. At 9:55, Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)) buried a shot from the point off Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) assists to make it a 2-1 game. 
 
Both teams went scoreless on their power play chances in the full 20 minutes however, Herrera was called for holding with seven seconds to go in the second which allowed Hobart to begin the third on the advantage. 
 
Utica looked to rally throughout the final 20 minutes with eight shots on goal in the frame. The Statesmen were also limited to seven looks on goal in the third which would lead to the game coming down to the final two minutes with the Pioneers behind by one goal. 
 
Roberts was pulled from goal with just over two minutes to play. With 48 seconds left, Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) and Spagnuolo each missed wide while Chris Carroll (Islip, NY/New Jersey Titans (NAHL)) had his shot blocked. Off of that, Hobart was able to poke the puck out of the Utica zone which led to an empty netter by Conor Lally to put a close to the contest at 3-1. 
 
Utica wraps up its 2023-24 campaign with 24 wins, a third consecutive UCHC title and a group of 18 newcomers who helped lead the team to its first NCAA Division III Frozen Four since 2012-13.