ELMIRA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team rallied from a 4-1 deficit with two goals in the third period, but came up just short of the comeback as the Pioneers dropped a 4-3 decision against host Elmira College in ECAC Men’s West Conference action on Saturday night. Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), Jide Idowu (Copper City, FL/Carleton Place (CCHL)) andVinny Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) each netted a goal for the Pioneers as their record fell to 1-2-1 overall and 0-2-1 in ECAC West play.
The Pioneers turn right back around on Saturday night when they travel to Hobart College for their fourth straight conference contest at 4 p.m.
UC fell into an early 2-0 hole in the first period, until freshmanDalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) registered his second goal of the season and he remains the team leader with nine points (two goals, seven assists) this season. Carter is currently the top scoring defenseman in the country. Senior’s Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) and Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) each recorded an assist on the Pioneers’ power-play goal with 57 seconds left in the third period.
Elmira tacked on two more goals in the first 5:02 of the second period to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
Sophomore Jide Idowu (Copper City, FL/Carleton Place (CCHL))led the late Pioneer charge when he registered his first tally of the season off an assist from first-year player Trent Samuels-Thomas(West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) 2:30 into the third and final period. Samuels-Thomas ranks second on the team with five assists this season.
Freshman Vinny Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) cut UC’s deficit to just one goal with 5:11 left in the contest when he scored his first collegiate goal of assists from Kyle Lajeunesse(South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)) and Alex Brissette(Danbury, CT/Hampton Roads (USPHL)).
Utica’s Cory Simic (Whitby, Ontario/Smith Falls (CCHL)) stopped 14 shots in between the pipes and did not allow a goal in relief of starter Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)). Wells made nine saves in the loss. Simic came on to play after Wells allowed the fourth Elmira goal at the 5:02 ledger of the second period.
Utica outshot the Soaring Eagles 31-27 on the afternoon and went 1-for-4 on the power-play. The Pioneers also won 37-of-65 face-offs.
Jarryd ten Vaanholt and Nick Owen each registered two points for Elmira (1-1-1, 1-1-1 ECAC West). Friday night’s contest was the first time the Pioneers and the Soaring Eagles have squared off since the ECAC West Tournament Championship game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium last season.
