UTICA, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 4/5 Utica College men’s hockey team lost its first game of the season on Friday night against No. 9/9 UMass Boston, 4-2, in non-conference action at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
The Pioneers record moved to 8-1 on the year and they remain at 6-0, with a two game lead, in the ECAC West Conference standings. The Beacons, who advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Semifinals last season, moved their record to 5-2 overall. Utica returns home on Saturday for game two of a three game home stand when it takes on Amherst College in non-conference play at 7 p.m.
The Beacons jumped out to a 2-1 first period lead behind goals from Colin Larkin and Cody Wikline. Utica’s first period goal came from the stick of sophomore Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and was assisted by Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)). Roberts now has five goals on the season. Valenti’s seven assists this season are tied for third on the team.
UMass Boston pushed its lead to 3-1 with just 18 seconds left on the second period game clock when Tyler Sifferlen netted his second goal of the season.
The Pioneers trailed going into the third period for the first time all season. Leading scorer Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) made it a 3-2 game with 9:49 left in regulation when he punched in his eighth goal of the season, assisted by Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)).
The Pioneers earned a power-play with less than a minute to go on the game clock and also pulled freshman goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) to earn a two skater advantage. Unfortunately for Utica, UMass Boston was able to score an empty net goal with 16 seconds left on the game clock to seal the two goal victory.
Utica out shot the visitors 31-27 on the day, including a considerable 14-3 margin in the final 20 minutes of action. UMass Boston was strong on the penalty kill all afternoon, holding UC to an 0-for-5 effort on the power-play. The Beacons killed a key five minute major penalty to open the third period of play.
Virtanen stopped 23 shots as he lost the first game of his collegiate career and saw his record move to 4-1 on the season. UMass Boston freshman goalie Jordan Bustard made 29 stops as he earned his fifth win of the season.
Utica’s eight game win streak was the most consecutive wins in the 16 year history of the program. Utica also snapped an 11 game home unbeaten streak that dated back to Jan. 22nd of last season.
Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) now leads the Pioneers with 17 points this season on eight goals and nine assists. Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) is the Pioneers active career leading scorer with 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists). Valenti is tied for second on the team with 10 points this season. Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) now ranks fourth on the team and leads all defenders with nine points.
