UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team held a 2-1 lead late into the third period until host Elmira College netted the game-tying goal with 4:31 left in regulation, and both teams were held scoreless through the overtime period as they tied 2-2 in ECAC West Conference action on Friday night. Utica’s Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Adam Moody (Newmarket, Ontario/Cowichan Valley (BCHL)) each netted a second period goal to pace the Pioneers.
Utica’s record moved to 11-8-4 overall and 5-5-3 in conference play, while Elmira’s ledger moved to 10-9-3 overall and 3-7-2 in the conference. Manhattanville earned a key ECAC West victory over first place Hobart in overtime on Friday night to assume sole possession of second place in the conference standings ahead of the third place Pioneers.
UC and Elmira turn right back around on Saturday night to wrap up the season series at the Murray Athletic Center at 7 p.m.
Utica freshman goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) stopped 31 shots on the afternoon, while his counterpart Sandro Aeschlimann made 54 saves as the Pioneers outshot the host Soaring Eagles 56-33 on the evening.
After a scoreless first period of play, the Pioneers opened up a 1-0 lead 4:42 into the second period when Carter netted his third goal of the season, assisted by Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) and senior Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)).
Elmira struck right back just 14 seconds later when Jarryd ten Vaanholt tallied his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Michael Collins and Greg Whittle, at the 4:56 ledger of the second.
With 50 seconds remaining in the second period Utica’s Adam Moody (Newmarket, Ontario/Cowichan Valley (BCHL)) netted a power-play goal, assisted by freshman Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and line mate Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)), to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead back before the start of the final period. Bushinski now has 10 assists on the year.
With 4:31 left in regulation, Elmira’s Greg Whittle netted a power-play goal, assisted by Blake O’Neill and tan Vaanholt. Elmira’s final goal of the third period sent the contest into the overtime stretch.
A five minute major (checking from behind) by Elmira’s Eddie Nolan with 3:07 left in the third period gave the Pioneers a man-advantage for the final minutes of regulation and the first 1:53 of overtime. The Pioneers were unable to capitalize with the extra skater and despite out shooting the home team 3-0 in the overtime stretch, the final horn sounded with the score set at 2-2.
