UTICA, NY – Utica sophomore Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) netted the game-winner with 2:16 left in the overtime period to help lift the nationally-ranked No. 10/14 Utica College men’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory over visiting Stevenson University in United Collegiate Hockey Conference action at the Adirondack Bank Center on Friday night.
The Pioneers have now won six in a row and improved to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in UCHC play. Utica dawned special edition jersey’s which were auctioned off throughout the contest. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. Carol Baldwin’s son Daniel, an actor, director and producer, helped to perform the ceremonial puck drop prior to the contest.
Both teams were held scoreless through two full periods of play. Utica held a 29-19 shot advantage headed into the third and final period.
After two periods of scoreless action Utica’s Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) got the Pioneers on the board as he lit the lamp 3:51 into the third period of play. Burmaster’s fourth goal of the season was assisted by freshman Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) and senior captain Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)) and gave Utica a 1-0 advantage.
Stevenson knotted the score at 1-1 14:43 into the third period when Colton McMeniman scored his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Justin Stelzer and Colin Woods. The score stood at 1-1 through 60 full minutes of action as both teams prepared for the five minute overtime period.
2:44 into the OT stanza, Utica’s Shawn Lynch (Syracuse, NY/Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)) found a streaking Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) who then went top shelf past Caffrey to light the lamp and end the overtime thriller with the Pioneers on top 2-1. Gerson’s second goal of the season could not have come at a better time and the assist for Lynch marked his first of the year.
Utica sophomore goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) stopped 29 shots on the afternoon as his record moved to 5-1 on the year. Stevenson goalie Jacob Caffrey made 46 saves in net for the Mustangs and saw his record move to 5-4-2 overall.
Utica returns to the ice on Saturday night when it hosts Neumann University for the 13th annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss at 7 p.m. Saturday’s contest will be broadcast locally on WKTV (NBC).
Stevenson’s record dropped to 5-4-2 overall and 4-2-1 in UCHC action. Utica finished the night with a 48-30 shot advantage and both teams went 0-for-2 on the power-play.
