Box Score BROCKPORT, NY - The #10 ranked Utica University men's hockey team kicked off its 25th conference campaign in controlling fashion on Friday night, overpowering SUNY Brockport in enemy territory en route to a 4-1 win.
The Pioneers controlled play throughout the matchup, logging 44 total shots to Brockport's 15 as they slowed a hosting Golden Eagle squad to secure a 1-0 start in UCHC play.
Three Stars:
1st - Two of those 44 attempts came off the stick of Pioneer captain
Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI), who led all scorers with two goals in the matchup. His first score came during the second period, as he sent a
Will Hilfiker (Middletown, NJ) wrister into the net via a slick redirection, increasing the orange and blue lead to 2-0 at the midway point of the matchup. Morse's second goal would seal the deal for the visitors, as he cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net to make it 4-1 with less than three minutes remaining. Morse was named the first star of the matchup
2nd - Nick Ahern (Chicago, IL) was also active during the contest, as the junior transfer scored his first official goal in a Utica uniform from the slot to make it 3-1. Ahern's score came off the power play, and gave the Pioneers a boost right at the beginning of the third period. Ahern's goal was also a wonderful team combination, as the power play unit zipped the puck around the Golden Eagle defense, eventually finding Ahern wide open in the slot after an array of one-touch passes.
John Gutt (Middletown, NJ) and
Mathieu MacMillan (Ottawa, Ontario) recorded assists on the goal, connecting with Ahern for the satisfying score.
3rd - Andrew Della Rovere (Caledon East, Ontario) had an incredible night inside the faceoff circle. The top line center defeated the opposing Golden Eagle center on 22 of his 26 total draws, producing an outrageous 85% faceoff win rate. His dominance on the draw helped the team to control play throughout all three periods. Della Rovere led a faceoff effort that saw the team take 44 of 67 total faceoff opportunities, a combined faceoff win percentage of 66%.
Rounding out the scoring was
Gabriel Lundberg (Gothenburg, Sweden), who continued his hot start, logging his third goal of the season off a rocket that scooted past the Brockport netminder to open scoring.
A host of newer Pioneers piled up assists, with Utica newcomers
Davis Goukler (Cumming, GA),
Alex German (Colorado Springs, CO), and
Hunter Longhi (Collinsville, IL) grabbing apples alongside MacMillan and Hilfiker.
Eric Vitale (Toronto, Ontario) and the aforementioned Gutt completed the list of Pioneer point getters, with both skaters adding a playmaker.
The Pioneers were adept at blocking shots in this matchup, continuing to embody their aggressive mentality with 15 blocks. Junior defensemen
Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO) led this effort, getting a game-high three blocks.
Kyle Curtin (St. George, Ontario) made his third straight start between the pipes, grabbing 14 saves and coming inches away from his first shutout in an orange and blue uniform.
The Pioneers improved to 1-0 in the UCHC and will battle Brockport at 7:00 PM tomorrow with a chance to double that mark. Tomorrow's matchup starts at 7:00 PM inside the Adirondack Bank Center.
