UTICA, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 13 Utica College men’s hockey team jumped out to a 3-1 lead, with two goals just 33 seconds apart, midway through the second period and never looked back as the Pioneers skated to a 5-2 victory over visiting Neumann University in ECAC West Conference action on Friday night.
Junior Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) netted one goal and added one assist while senior Connor Schmidt (Monroe, MI/Arizona State (D1-Ind.)) and junior Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) each registered two assists to help the Pioneers remain unblemished as they improved to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in ECAC West play. Ammirato now has three goals and one assist in his last two outings. Ammirato and Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) are now tied for the team lead with six points each this season.
UC is now undefeated through three games for the first time since the 2013-14 season and are one game closer to matching their program-best start to a season of 4-0 which was recorded twice previously (2012-13, 2010-11). UC returns home on Saturday for game three of a five game home stand when it squares off against Manhattanville in ECAC West Conference play at 7 p.m.
Utica struck first just 5:49 into the contest when Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) netted a power-play goal, assisted by Ammirato and Schmidt, to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead that stood through one period of play.
Johannes Sallila tied the game at 1-1 for Neumann when he netted his first of the season, assisted by Nick Perruccio and Sam House, 2:44 into the second period of play.
Midway through the second, the Pioneers broke out with two goals in a span of 33 seconds from the sticks of Ammirato and freshman Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Wakefield, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). Ammirato’s third goal of the year was beautifully assisted by Bushinski and defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). Fitzpatrick’s first collegiate goal, at 10:22 of the second period, was assisted by Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)) and Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)), to give UC a commanding 3-1 lead.
The Pioneers earned a 4-1 advantage on the power-play, 4:32 into the third period, when Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) tallied his second goal of the season. Brissette’s goal was assisted by freshman Jacob Gerson (Colorado Springs, CO/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Connor Schmidt (Monroe, MI/Arizona State (D1-Ind.)). The assist was the first collegiate point for Gerson.
Neumann made it a 4-2 contest at the 5:38 mark of the third period, but that was as close as the Knights would get and the Pioneers went on to add a short-handed empty net goal with 1:41 remaining to seal the three goal victory. Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) scored the final goal of the game, his second of the season, assisted by Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Bushinski.
Utica freshman goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) earned his second collegiate win as he made 23 stops, including 11 in the second period alone. Virtanen and the Pioneer penalty kill unit also held the Knights to a 1-for-7 effort on the power-play. UC finished the evening going 2-for-4 on the power-play and the Pioneers out shot the visitors 37-25.
