Cortland, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 14 Utica College men’s hockey team defeated host Cortland State 3-2 in non-conference action on Saturday night. UC’s Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) deflected home the game-winner with 5:04 left in regulation to help UC remain unbeaten through two games this season. The initial shot was put on net by Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and was also assisted by senior defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)).
The Pioneers improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating visiting Fredonia State 7-3 in their home opener on Friday. Carter finished the night with a team-best two points on one goal and one assist. He now has four points this season. Cortland’s record moved to 0-2 on the year.
Utica lit the lamp first at the 16:17 mark of the first period when Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) scored his second goal of the season off assists from Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)).
Cortland answered with the equalizer 2:56 into the second period of play when Scott Docherty scored off assists from Ryan Fritz and Dan Broderick to knot the score at 1-1.
Just 17 seconds later Devin Warfield (Cary, NC/Carolina Eagles (USPHL)) posted his first goal as a Pioneer off assists from Josh Haskin (Troy, NY/P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (USPHL)) and Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) to put the Pioneers back on top 2-1 3:13 into the second period.
Cortland tied the contest up on a shorthanded, unassisted, goal 9:51 into the third period of play to make the score 2-2. The Pioneers then earned a power-play and converted as Carter worked the puck to Valenti, who put a shot on net that deflected off of Derlago and past Cortland goalie Drew Weigman.
Utica sophomore goalie Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) picked up his first collegiate win as he stopped 22 shots between the pipes for the Pioneers, while Cortland goalie Drew Weigman made 30 saves in net for the Red Dragons.
Bushinski and Valenti now each have three points on the season (one gola, two assists).
The Pioneers avenged a tough mid season 4-2 loss at the hands of Cortland in December of last year at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Utica returns to the ice next Friday when the Pioneers travel to Nazareth College to open up United Collegiate Hockey Conference action at 7 p.m.
