RYE, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team scored two goals in a span of 46 seconds with less than two minutes to go in the contest, but host Manhattanville College hung on for the 4-3 victory in ECAC Men’s West Conference action on Saturday night.
With the Pioneers trailing 4-1 late in the contest, freshman Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) started the UC rally with 1:58 left in regulation as he netted his first collegiate goal, assisted by Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) and Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), to reduce the Utica deficit to 4-2. Just 46 seconds later, senior Nick Miglio (San Antonio, TX/Bismarck (NAHL)) netted his second goal of the season, assisted by Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) and Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)), to make it a one score game with 1:12 left in the contest.
The Manhattanville defense, led by goalie Tyler Feaver, was able to fend off the Pioneers’ empty net extra skater opportunity down the stretch as the Valiants earned the one goal conference victory.
Utica’s record moved to 3-3-1 overall and 2-3-1 in ECAC West play headed into next weekend’s Raddison Thanksgiving Showcase back at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Pioneers welcome western powers Saint John’s University and University of St. Thomas, as well as central New York stand out Oswego State to the Aud for the Thanksgiving tournament festivities. UC will take on Saint John’s Friday night at 7 p.m. before squaring off against St. Thomas on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Oswego will play St. Thomas at 4 p.m. Friday before facing off against Saint John’s on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) (one goal, one assist) and Valenti (two assists) each finished the night with a team-best two points for the Pioneers. Utica heavily outshot its opponent for the second straight night, as the Pioneers earned a 36-19 shot advantage on the evening. The Utica defense also held the Valiants to an 0-for-2 effort on the power-play.
Manhattanville jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 12:11 of the contest behind goals from Jeff Beck, Jared Martin and Adam Platt. After the Valiants third goal, the Pioneers pulled starting goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) and went with Cory Simic (Whitby, Ontario/Smith Falls (CCHL)) in net for the remainder of the contest.
UC was able to make it a 3-1 game before the end of the first period as assistant captain Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) netted his second goal of the season, assisted by Kevin Kirisits (Buffalo, NY/Brockville (CCHL)) and Valenti, at the 16:18 ledger.
Both teams were held scoreless, while the Pioneers outshot the home team 15-4 in the second period of action.
Manhattanville broke the scoreless run with 2:34 remaining in regulation when Beck recorded his second of the night on an empty net to give the Valiants a commanding 4-1 lead late in the contest.
UC responded just 36 seconds later with a power-play goal from Derlago and added another tally with 1:12 left to put a scare in the home team, but that was as close as the Pioneers would get as Manhattanville skated away with a one goal victory.
Simic finished the night with 11 saves and did not allow a goal in 44:30 of work. Senior goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) stopped four shots but allowed three goals in 12:11 of action for Utica. Manhattanville’s Tyler Feaver made 33 saves in the victory.
Utica went 1-for-5 on the power-play on the afternoon while Manhattanville won the face-off battle 35-22 and also blocked 18 shots.
With the victory, Manhattanville moved its record to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the ECAC West.
