UTICA, NY – Utica College sophomore Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) netted the game-winner with 2:16 left in regulation to lift the Pioneers to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Neumann University in the semifinals of the ECAC Men’s West Conference Tournament at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night.
The Pioneers (18-8) will now host third-seeded Hobart College in the ECAC West Tournament Championship game next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Aud. Saturday’s championship game will be a rematch of last year’s tournament final. Utica’s 18 wins are the second most wins in a single season in program-history and the Pioneers have now won eight of their last nine contests.
Utica is advancing to its third ECAC West title game in the last four years and fifth overall in the program’s 16-year history. The Pioneers will host the Statesmen on Saturday in search of their first conference tournament title in program-history.
Borsoi finished the night with a career-high two goals, while leading scorer Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) added one goal and one assist. Ammirato now has 35 points this season, marking the most points scored by a Pioneer in a single season since All-American Louie Educate registered 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) back in 2013.
After a scoreless first period, the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 second period lead behind a goal each from Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) and Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)). McVeigh’s goal came just 44 seconds into the second period on a power-play and was assisted by Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)). Borsoi’s first of the night and fourth of the season was at the 6:40 marker of the second to give Utica a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers second goal of the night was assisted by Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)) and Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)).
UC took a commanding 3-0 lead 5:26 into the third period when Ammirato scored his 12th of the year, assisted by line mates Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)).
Just 1:07 after UC took a 3-0 lead, Neumann (16-8-3) began its charge to get back into the contest. Matt Zendejay scored at the 6:33 marker of the third period to cut the Knight’s deficit to 3-1.
Joe Mitchell then added his fourth of the season at the 14:56 mark of the third period to make it a one goal game, 3-2. The Knights completed the comeback just 1:32 later when Thomas Mansbridge scored his second of the season, assisted by Johannes Sallila and Nick Perruccio to knot the score at 3-3 with 3:32 to go in regulation.
Borsoi’s game winner was his fifth goal of the season and came with just 2:16 left on the third period game clock. Shawn Lynch (Syracuse, NY/Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)) and Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) assisted on the Pioneers’ winner.
Utica freshman goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) earned his 13th victory of the season as he stopped 33 shots and held the Knights scoreless through the first two periods of play.
The last time Utica won over 18 games in a single season was back in 2013 when the Pioneers won 21 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Semifinals in Lake Placid, NY.
The Pioneers will now have played Hobart (16-17, 15-16) and Elmira (13-14, 05-06) twice in the championship game and Manhattanville once (04-05). Utica’s win over Neumann on Saturday marks the first time the Pioneers have defeated the Knights in postseason play in program-history. UC headed into the contest with an 0-5 record in the postseason against Neumann in five previous matchups.
Neumann goalie Anthony Pupplo stopped 29 shots on the night and finished the season with an 11-2-2 overall record.
Neumann out shot Utica 36-33 on the evening and the Pioneers went 1-for-3 on the power-play.
