UTICA, NY - The #2 Pioneers returned to the Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday night for what would be their last matchup on home ice until Valentine's Day. Facing UCHC foe Brockport for the second night in a row, the Pioneers sent the fans home happy with a late game-winner courtesy of hometown hero Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)) proving to be the difference. The hosts stood tall after the game's decisive moment, with the Pioneer defense holding on for a solid 2-1 win to head into next week's road trip with some good momentum.
 
Sending the Pioneers to their seventh straight win was Murphy along with the Golden Eagles worst nightmare this season in Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)). The upperclassmen duo notched the game's two goals, capitalizing on the momentum generated by their super showings the night before.
 
Breault's goal came earlier in the evening, as he knotted the proceedings up in the second period off a rebound-putback. Murphy then netted the decider a few minutes into the final period, slicing through the defense and leaving multiple Golden Eagle defenders in his wake as he hammered home a howitzer which eventually registered as the game-winner.
 
Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)) and Anthony Cafarelli (Middleton, MA/Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)) added assists on Murphy's score, threading the needle to beat the initial Golden Eagle challengers.
 
Goaltender Ryan Piros (Hartland, MI/University of Dubuque (NCAA DIII)) continued his stellar streak in net for the Pioneers, continuing his unbeaten run as he allowed just one goal to help achieve a big UCHC victory. The recent transfer logged 16 saves in the winning effort, once again putting in some great work in a series finale with the freshman netminder allowing one goal or less in every UCHC series finale he's appeared in so far in his short tenure.
 
The Pioneers fired out of a rocket from the opening puck drop, seeing many great chances but falling short on many high-level moves due to a standout game from the Golden Eagle goalkeeper Cole Hudson. In the matchup, Utica managed to outshoot Brockport by a significant 51-17 margin. The home side also stole 41 of the 59 total faceoff opportunities, dominating in the circle and controlling the pace of the game despite the tough sledding they encountered on offense at certain points.
 
The Pioneers fired out of a rocket following the opening puck drop, firmly planting their line within the Brockport zone for the vast majority of the first period. Despite their constant pressure, the team couldn't find a sufficient opportunity as the first period ended with the score knotted at 0 despite the Pioneers holding a huge share of chances.
 
Brockport used the momentum they gained by standing their ground in the opening stages of the showdown to mount a big movement at the onset of the second period. Their efforts allowed them to draw first blood, silencing the loud home crowd as they took a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pioneers' vaunted power play unit tried to level the game multiple times in the middle period, attempting to capture the same energy that had allowed them to score an advantage goal in the four of the last five games. Instead, Breault found the equalizer with even strength, knotting the game at one heading into the third.
 
Murphy then capitalized on the momentum, netting his goal to give the home side the lead which they hung on to for the 2-1 win.
 
The Pioneers improved to 16-2-1 with the win, moving to 12-1-1 in the UCHC and boosting ahead of Geneseo by a small margin after the Knights won in overtime at Manhattanville earlier in the day.