Hershey, PA – Lebanon Valley’s Cole Hepler scored a power-play goal with 30 seconds left in regulation as the Dutchmen upset nationally-ranked Utica College 3-2 on Friday night inside Hersheypark Arena. LVC picked up its first win of the season and now sits at 1-3-1, 1-1-1 UCHC, while the Pioneers dropped to 3-2, 1-2 UCHC.
With two minutes and 51 seconds left in the third period, Utica’s Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) was whistled for tripping, and LVC went to the man advantage. After a couple of short-handed shots for the Pioneers were saved by LVC goalie Joel Eisenhower, the Dutchmen skated down the ice and the puck eventually came to Brett Johnson, who was skating down the left side. Johnson delivered a pass to Hepler, and the assistant captain deked the Pioneers’ Henry Dill (Columbus, OH/UMASS (Hockey East)) and scored, giving the Dutchmen a one-goal advantage with 30 ticks left. Utica pulled their goalie for the final 30 seconds, but were unable to tie it.
Utica opened up the scoring on the evening and netted a goal at 14:33 of the first period after Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) found the back of the net, assisted by Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) and Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)). LVC saw some chances, but were unable to push one past Dill in the first and the Pioneers went into the first intermission up 1-0. The Dutchmen tied things up at 14:19 of the second period when Johnson scored from Jared Karas and Bryan Hovanec. The 1-1 tie stood heading into third period action.
5:17 into the third, with Utica on the power play, Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) netted a goal from Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) and Bushinski to put the Pioneers ahead 2-1 for the time being. Just over two minutes later, Nick Skerlick tied things up with his first goal of the season from Russ Armbruster and Mike Straub.
Utica returns to the ice Saturday night when the Pioneers travel to Chatham College to take on the Cougars in UCHC action at 7:20 p.m.
