ROCHESTER, NY - Johnny Mulera (Rockville, MD/Salve Regina University (NCAA DIII)) and Ryan Piros (Hartland, MI/University of Dubuque (NCAA DIII)) have both garnered a pair of weekly conference awards for their perforemance in this past weekend's series finale at Manhattanville. Mulera achieved both the Empire 8 and UCHC Player of the Week awards while Piros was bestowed both the Empire 8 and UCHC Goalie of the Week honors. 

Mulera capped off the regular season campaign in stunning fashion this past weekend, burying three goals against Manhattanville to help the Pioneers pocket their ninth-straight Regular Season Conference Title. The Maryland man managed a pair of key scores in Friday's win, grabbing two out of the five-straight scores for Utica in an eventual 5-1 victory over the Valiants. In the second leg of the Pioneers' final weekend series, Mulera netted the eventual game winner while on a power play to give the Pioneers a 3-2 victory and also secure them the number one seed in this season's UCHC Tournament. The graduate player's trio of scores, along with his game winner, gave the Pioneers the push they needed to achieve yet another regular season crown.
 
Piros capped off his first regular season as a Pioneer with two key victories in the pair of crucial contests. The freshman sensation allowed just three scores in a pair of wins, improving his record to 11-1-1 since joining the team in early January. The Hartland, Michigan native guarded the net gracefully in the final weekend series, helping them achieve their ninth-straight regular season championship on the last day of the season. Piros saved 37 shots at a 92.5% rate during the two game set, sporting a 1.5 goals allowed average. For Piros, this is his fourth week being recognized with a conference award since becoming a Pioneer. 

The Pioneers will now prepare for the UCHC Semifinal round, hosting a key playoff matchup this Saturday, March 1st at 7:00 PM. The opposing team in Saturday's semifinal will be determined based on the results of the first round games which occur this Wednesday.